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Return to the River

  • 05 Sep 2008

Te Araroa's Rangiriri-Huntly trail - the next leg in our 30-kilometre Waikato riverside trail - is underway. The new trail continues where the Meremere-Rangiriri Trail left off last year. That trail, opened December 16 200, is popular. Its stile counter records up to 170 hikers a month.


Waikato team gathered on Huntly Golf Course fairway about to start construction.
L to R: Ed Moana, Dean Straker, Sonny Hapi, Jeff Kani, Geoff Chapple, Noel Sandford
Credit: Miriam Beatson
Team creating rough track
The team has already cleared riverside vegetation and formed a rough path
Credit: M Beatson
Team creating rough track
The team has already cleared riverside vegetation and formed a rough path
Credit: M Beatson

Sonny Hapi & Ed Moana walk the track
Credit: M Beatson

Trust Waikato granted Te Araroa Trust the money for the new Rangiriri-Huntly leg, and a local team began work 10 December 2001. Two of last year's Te Araroa track-builders are back again - Sonny Hapi who is team leader, and Jeff Kani. Ed Moana and Dean Straker are new to the the team. Hamilton Boys High woodwork teacher Noel Sandford also drops by three days a week and is designing a long section of boardwalk and bridging where the trail goes riverside under long avenues of trees. That's to avoid golf balls richocetting up the Huntly Golf Club fairways - but it's also one of the most beautiful sections - just trees, the river, and you. The new section will be 11 kilometres long, and should open March or April next year. Sonia Frimmel from Pirongia is overseeing the project.

Page last updated: Jul 28, 2020, 5:08 PM