The entire Puketapu Loop is now connected and ready to ride just in time for the July school holidays, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has announced.
A formal opening was held yesterday afternoon on what was the most damaged section following Cyclone Gabrielle, along the Tūtaekurī River corridor near Waiohiki Marae, where a new stop bank was recently completed.
The opening was attended by community representatives, mana whenua, councils, official Great Ride partners, and Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails Board.
Hawke’s Bay Trails Great Ride Manager and Council Regional Cycle Network Coordinator, Vicki Butterworth says it has taken a massive effort by many stakeholders to get to this point.
“I want to acknowledge the stakeholders, the communities, official trail partners, councils, iwi, Department of Conservation, KiwiRail, NZ Transport Agency Waki Kotahi (NZTA), TREC and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE),” she said.
“We are very grateful that, as a Great Ride, we were eligible to access the Extreme Weather Event Fund from MBIE. This has ensured that the $2.2 million in repairs has not been funded by local councils, taking the burden off ratepayers.”
Initially, around 30% of the network was so badly damaged it had to close. It took months to fully assess the extent of the damage and identify solutions.
Council Chair, Sophie Siers said this section of the Great Ride between Puketapu and Awatoto was unrecognisable in some areas.
“To see it restored and reopened is an opportunity to celebrate both the resilience of communities and the good things that can come from people working together for the benefit of many.”
There are still a few years of intermittent disruptions ahead for the trails network, with new bridges to be constructed, and stop banks being rebuilt.
Council, Hawke’s Bay Trails and the local community ask users to stay on the lime sand trail to avoid damaging the newly completed stop bank while it settles fully, and to keep off areas where grass is still getting established.
Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails Chief Executive, Janet Purdey said the opening marked an important milestone.
“It’s a significant achievement for the Hawke’s Bay Trails, as they aim to continue trail usage and visitor number growth. The New Zealand Cycle Trail’s strategic goal is to increase the economic impact of the 23 Great Rides across regional New Zealand from $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion by 2034 and Hawke’s Bay Trails play an important part in this,” said Ms Purdey.
The Hawke’s Bay Trails Great Ride generates millions of dollars annually through local, domestic and international visitation. In 2025, a record 800,000 individual trips were recorded across the 177km network, making it one of the most popular of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides.
The trail network also supports local communities by providing key commuting routes. It underpins more than 10 bike hire and tour companies, along with multiple cycle retail and hospitality businesses. As a result of the quality and connectivity it entices many visitors and numerous events each year, including flagship events like Hawke’s Bay Marathon and Iron Māori.
According to the Angus & Associates 2025 Evaluation of Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, an estimated $1.28 billion in visitor expenditure is attributable to the Great Rides into the regions of New Zealand.
This regional tourism asset is a collaboration between asset owners Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and NZTA.
Visit here for more information about Hawke’s Bay Trails.
