Bush Telegraph

Challenge for all among the windmills

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Mark your calendars, the Meridian Te A¯ piti Wha¯ nau Challenge is coming up on Sunday April 23.

Get your family and friends together for this fantastic event, held at the Meridian Te A¯ piti Wind Farm (access via the public viewing area), overlookin­g the best scenery the Tararua has to offer.

Run, walk or take a relaxing family stroll through the private farmland that has been generously opened up for this one day of the year, making this an exclusive experience for participan­ts. Choose from a 4km, 8km or 12km distance, with the option of turning back at any point.

Collect your finisher’s medals and keep the kids entertaine­d with the festival greeting them at the finish line, with food and entertainm­ent for the whole family.

Sport Manawatu Tararua Recreation Advisor, Natarsha Nikora, sees this event as a great opportunit­y for the region.

“This is shaping up to be a really exciting event for Tararua, not only putting it on the map but giving the rest of the Manawatu the chance to see what a hidden gem it is,” Ms Nikora says.

Meridian Energy wind maintenanc­e and developmen­t manager Chris More says Meridian looks forward to welcoming the community to experience the wind farm. “Te A¯ piti Wha¯ nau Challenge presents the perfect opportunit­y to get up close with our wind turbines. There are 55 turbines at Te A¯ piti which generate enough electricit­y to power 39,000 homes each year. The landscape in the area is stunning and we’re sure you’ll enjoy traversing.”

Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.

 ??  ?? Up close and personal with the windmills in a previous event in 2016.
Up close and personal with the windmills in a previous event in 2016.
 ??  ?? Views from the top were worth the effort.
Views from the top were worth the effort.

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