Waimate, this is your trail

After years of planning, fundraising and hard work, Stage 1 of The Waimate Trail / Te Ara Waimatemate will be officially opened on Friday 20 November. In this guest editorial, the Waimate2gether team acknowledges the extraordinary community that's helped make it happen.

The idea of a longer walking and biking trail around Waimate had been discussed for years, but the turning point came when Waimate2gether received funding through the Department of Internal Affairs' Community-Led Development Programme in 2018.

That helped turn the idea into action and provided a foundation for securing further investment. With a shared-use trail high on the community's wish list, the project began to take shape.

First, a special thank you to the landowners. The Olorenshaw, Murphy, Ellis and Trebuľa families have generously allowed the trail to cross their working farms, opening up parts of the district that many people would otherwise never experience. Without their support, this stage of the trail would not have been possible.

**The Ellis-Lea Farms team: Martin, Leo, Kelsie and Tommy Trebuľa and Karen and Dave Ellis.**

Waimate's schools and early childhood education centres have also played an important part, with students, staff and families contributing through fundraising and community support. The district's tamariki will have a special role at the opening, coming together to sing the Waimate Song.

Waimate Lions and Waimate Rotary have generously helped fund the three bridges and contributed many volunteer hours and practical assistance, alongside the many volunteers who have attended working bees, planted and weeded and helped put the finishing touches on the trail.

Numerous community groups, businesses and individuals have supported the project through sponsorship, donations, fundraising, goods in kind and voluntary work.

Among the memorable fundraising efforts was Miss Waimate 2025. Thank you to everyone who took to the stage, sponsored the event, helped organise it or bought a ticket. Community fundraising has made a substantial contribution to Stage 1.

The committee warmly thanks its Platinum Trail Blazers: Waimate District Council, the NZ Lottery Grants Board, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and Ahu Community Trust.

We also sincerely thank every Trail Blazer sponsor and donor who has backed this project. Whether through funding, materials, time, or encouragement, each contribution matters and is warmly appreciated.

Thank you to our project partners for all your support – Waimate District Council, Te Rūnanga o Waihao, the Department of Conservation, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and Waimate Trackways Incorporated.

**Jo Sutherland and Wendy Heath outside Waihao Marae.**

Behind the scenes, master trail builder Hamish Seaton has designed and overseen the trail's construction, while project manager Jo Sutherland and the Waimate2gether committee have worked to bring the project to completion.

Special thanks go to Te Rūnanga o Waihao for its cultural guidance and vision for the Footsteps of Our Ancestors sculpture trail, which will share the stories and heritage of the area.

To everyone who has contributed, whether through grants, sponsorship and donations, land access, fundraising, practical work or encouragement – thank you. This trail is the result of years of effort and an enormous amount of community support.

Now it's time for everyone to enjoy it. Waimate, this is your trail.