Jewel in crown is back
Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway open after pandemic setbacks
It’s taken a while, but one of the jewels in Te Puke’s crown is back. A section Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway was closed in late August 2019 meaning it was not possible to do a full circuit of the 4km pathway.
A statement from Western Bay of Plenty Council at the time said the pathway would be closed for some months due to Kiwirail replacing a rail bridge and diversions would be in place until February 2020.
Delays, some Covid-19 related, plus further restrictions on the use of the pathway due to work on the Waia¯ ri Water Supply Scheme, meant the path was only just fully reopened earlier this month.
Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Society member Geoff Brann says there had been a little bit of frustration with the closure and its length.
“But it’s open now, and we just move on.”
He says the track is now in very good condition, with the area around the new bridge worked on by Cheetham Excavators, mowing done and the area around the cemetery recently sprayed.
A counter has also been installed on the path.
“In the short period it has been reopened I think we’ve had something like 1300 people come through, which is good,” says Geoff.
Gael Blaymires who, with late husband Cedric, was one of the instigators of the project, says it is marvellous that it is fully reopened.
“It’s really looking good and the pohutukawa around the cemetery are really looking magnificent,” she says.
Gael can see a part of the pathway from her home’s garden.
“One of the things that particularly surprises me is the number of mums with babies in pushchairs — I never thought they would be using the pathway.”
Most recently planned for
Easter 2020, the bridge replacement was delayed by Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns. The bridge replacement eventually took place in August.