Government adds $400,000 to Hauraki Rail Trail storm repairs
Last Updated on September 1, 2026
The Government is putting a further $400,000 towards repairing the Hauraki Rail Trail, which was badly damaged when the Ohinemuri River flooded in January.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced the funding, which comes on top of $300,000 provided in April for immediate safety work that allowed the trail to reopen after the flooding. Total government support for the recovery now stands at $700,000.
The money comes from the International Visitor Levy, channelled through the New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund, according to Beehive.govt.nz. The Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust will also put in funding for this stage of the repair work.
Damage concentrated at Karangahake Gorge
The January flooding tore up trail surfaces, damaged riverbank edges, wrecked structures and blocked access points along the route. The worst of it hit the Karangahake Gorge section, which needs significant repair before it can be considered fully restored.
Upston said the investment was about keeping the trail operating as what she called a world-class attraction for both tourists and locals.
“This investment will help ensure the Hauraki Rail Trail can continue playing its important role in supporting tourism, local jobs and regional economic growth,” she said.
A trail worth $12 million a year to the region
The Hauraki Rail Trail draws more than 32,000 visitors annually and contributes roughly $12 million a year to the local economy, according to government figures. That spending flows through to accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, transport operators and tourism operators along the route, which is one reason the Minister described its recovery as important for both local communities and the wider visitor economy.
The trail is one of 23 routes that make up Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail network branded as the Great Rides. Collectively, those trails attract more than 2 million users a year and are estimated to contribute $1.28 billion to regional economies across the country.
Upston said repairing and reopening Great Rides after extreme weather was a continuing priority, given their role in driving regional tourism and supporting local businesses.
The latest funding does not come with a stated completion date for the Karangahake Gorge repairs, but it marks the second round of government assistance since the January flooding forced the trail’s closure.
Source: Beehive.govt.nz.
Photo: “Untitled” by Jussarian, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Openverse.
