Government backs The Waimate Trail with major funding boost
The New Zealand Government has committed significant funding to The Waimate Trail - Te Ara Waimatemate, marking a major step forward for the scenic cycling and walking project that has gathered steady community support.
The funding boost of $200,000 was announced by Minister Louise Upston this morning as part of the Government’s $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package.
For project manager Jo Sutherland, the moment the confirmation email landed was one she won’t forget. She was, by all accounts, pretty excited. Now that the news is public, she says it feels even better.
“It’s lovely to finally be able to celebrate the news with the community,” she says.
Jonathan Kennett - one of the three Kennett brothers behind New Zealand’s most trusted cycling guides - and Bronnie Wall-Kennett joined Jo to check out The Waimate Trail last year.
A Minister invested in the regions
Jo and her Waimate2gether committee first connected with Minister Upston when she visited Waimate during an earlier trip to see the Whitehorse development.
“It makes a huge difference when Ministers come to the regions and see what’s happening on the ground”, Jo says.
“We'd like to thank the Minister and her team for backing Waimate and the trail.”
That early visit helped establish a relationship and a shared understanding of what the trail could mean for the district - not just as a recreation asset, but as a driver for regional economic growth.
Waimate2gether committee members Rob Smith and Glenda Begg show Minister Upston the views from the Whitehorse in 2024.
A community backed trail
The Waimate Trail has been built on community momentum from day one - with volunteers, landowners, funders and supporters all chipping in to get it off the ground.
Jo is quick to point out this funding didn’t happen in isolation.
She wants to thank the many people and organisations who have backed the project so far - from the generous funders, to the landowners who have opened their properties, and Waimate District Council for its ongoing support.
“There’s been huge goodwill around this trail,” she says. “That community backing absolutely strengthens the case when it comes to government funding.”
Locals going above and beyond raising around $40,000 for the trail through the Miss Waimate event in 2025.
More than a bike trail
The trail is designed to showcase the district’s landscape and history, connecting town and countryside in a way that’s accessible for everyone.
Beyond the ride itself, the project is expected to bring wider benefits - supporting local businesses, encouraging people to stay longer in the district, and giving residents another reason to get outdoors.
Government support signals confidence not just in the route, but in the people behind it.
With funding now confirmed and the announcement out in the open, the focus shifts to delivery. There’s still work ahead, but this milestone is a big one.
And for those who’ve been pedalling away behind the scenes for years, it’s a moment worth pausing for.
As Jo puts it - it’s good to finally be able to celebrate.