CYCLEWAY PROGRESS

In 1 November 1987 the then Labour government closed the Otira to Okaihau rail corridor and immediately began lifting the tracks. Shortly after, NZ Rail was sold. Nothing was done to the abandoned corridor and it soon became run down, fences failed or were removed, and in many cases foundation material was also removed.

Early on a number of visionaries could see the potential in opening up the track as a cycle/walk way.

In 2006 Gordon Magon of the Kaikohe (Rau Marama) Community Trust formally approached MP Shane Jones in his Kaikohe office to talk about the Kaikohe to Okaihau rail corridor. He asked that the then Labour government free some of the ‘Fight Obesity’ funding to reopen the Kaikohe to Okaihau corridor, and with the corridor reopened there would be an opportunity to advance economic opportunities for the mid-north.

Some of the early initiatives were reported in the local papers in 2006.

Work was also done in looking at what would be needed to gain access to the corridor, and a number of letters were written initiating discussion with ONTRACK for access to the corridor for recreational use.  Little progress was made until the local Community Board became involved along with a change of government.  The National Cycleway was proposed by Prime Minister John Key as the 21st "surprise" item of the national Job Summit held by the New Zealand Government in early 2009.