2024 In Review
A Word From Our Chair
I am pleased to look back and review the past year on Te Awa River Ride and reflect on our first full year after completing construction of our final section.
2024 has been a focus on creating an outstanding experience with trail enhancements, community engagement and working to maximise the benefits our world-class regional asset provides.
“Pride in my community,
district and region –
proud that this trail
is part of my home”
Trail User Feedback
“Pride in my community,
district and region
proud that this trail is part of my home”
Trail User Feedback
On the Trail
Te Awa Art Trail
We really want to enhance the experience for those using Te Awa and create a cycle/walkway across the Waikato that stands out from other trails.
One of these ways is through an Art Trail – with four art “precincts” planned throughout the 65km made up of over 20 unique artworks.
The aim of the Te Awa Art Trail is to inspire and inform, engage and educate our locals and visitors and create more ‘wow’ moments as people walk or bike along the trail. 2024 saw the first two sculptures installed, with more planned for 2025.
On the trail
2024 Events
Events have been a key strategy to increase community and visitor engagement with Te Awa.
We held our own Light Nights in Cambridge and for the first year, Ngaruawahia, both proving hugely popular. From half marathons and park runs, to bike-packers and e-Bikers, events have proven a fantastic way to attract new users and visitors to Te Awa and experience the trail in a unique way.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
TE AWA EVENTS
On two different nights in July, we lit up sections of Te Awa to the local communities of Cambridge and Ngaruawahia.
Over 1,000 people at each location came out after dark to walk, bike or scoot along Te Awa under lights and experience Te Awa in a totally unique way! We hope to add one more location to the night-time in 2025.
On the trail
Trail Extensions & Construction
Our council partners have been busy completing projects that have provided vital links for our network.
Peacocke Pedestrian
Bridge
Thanks to Hamilton City Council
Cambridge CBD Off-Road
Connection
Thanks to Waipa District Council
“I realise how close I am to a great bike ride, which I can do anytime, for just a couple of hours or a couple of days”
Trail User Feedback
2024 In Review
Collaboration
While our organisation is pretty small (one part-time staff member), we have worked closely this year with other fantastic organisations!
%
0f users say they would recommend Te Awa to others
Annual User Counts On The Trail
EXPLORE TE AWA
Walk or Short Ride
Ride from the Gaslight Theatre to the Grassroots Trust Velodrome (return)
Experience art, boardwalks, river views and world-class sport (and coffee) – in the space of just 3 km!
2024 In Review
Getting Down To Business
RIVER RIDERS
A brand new depot at Hamilton Gardens
PUNNET EATERY
Cyclists are welcomed with a Rider Patio
Biking parking, shelters & repair stations
RIVERSIDE ADVENTURES
A new depot & expanded shuttle service
THANK YOU
Our Sponsors & Supporters
The support of these organisations makes the maintenance and promotion of the Te Awa River Ride possible – thank you!
WHAT’s AHEAD
Coming Up in 2025
Looking ahead, next year promises to bring even more new additions and opportunities to explore the Te Awa River Ride!
MORE ART
TRAIL ENHANCEMENTS
EVENTS
“Great trail for a family group with a range of fitness and experience; it was an opportunity for time with my family (including my 83-year-old dad)”
Trail User Feedback
THANK YOU
For Reading
DoWNLOAD
The Report
If you would prefer to view or share this report in a printable format, please download below.
A YEAR IN REVIEW 2024
Chair Report
I am pleased to look back and review the past year on Te Awa River Ride and reflect on our first full year after completing construction of our final section.
2024 has been a focus on creating an outstanding user experience with trail enhancements, community engagement and working to maximise the benefits our world-class regional asset provides.
From new trail developments to exciting community events, we’ve made significant strides in enhancing the experience for our local users and visitors alike. This report highlights the key additions and accomplishments that have made Te Awa an even better place to ride, explore, and connect. Join us as we look back on a year of progress and look ahead to our future plans.
A key strategy for our user experience enhancement has been embarking on a Te Awa Art Trail. We are really excited where this can go and the reach this can have in bringing new people from different places to be part of a creative and cultural walk or ride on our path.
But not all enhancement is in high-profile sculptures, and we are incredibly grateful to the three hard-working council parks team we work closely with, who have significantly elevated the level of service of Te Awa within their boundaries. The increased maintenance has been noticeable with our users, and we are so grateful to have such fantastic people working for the trail within our council partners.
We are truly fortunate to have an amazing group of passionate and experienced board members who regularly give Te Awa so much of their time. A huge thank you to our Board Members Alison Ewing, Steve Hastie and Andrew Corkill who are Waikato locals and are committed to cementing Te Awa as a cornerstone asset in our region.
We are really looking forward to continuing to enhance the experience for our users, while we work towards Te Awa becoming the busiest walking and cycling trail in the country.
See you out there!
Simon Perry
Chair, Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND GREAT RIDES
While we are not (yet!) a Great Ride, we have collaborated with the Great Rides of the North Island in forums, expos and events – an honorary member of the Great Ride North Island Great Rides 😊
ROTARY HAMILTON CENTRAL
Our maintenance ‘vehicle’ kindly donated by Hamilton Central Rotary is still proving its worth with maintenance, events and volunteer planting days.
THE LIONS CLUB TAMAHERE
The Lions Club of Tamahere has recently donated an E-Trike to Riverside Adventures, in Cambridge. The E-Trike is available for use free of charge on the Te Awa River Ride, making the path accessible to people who might not otherwise be able to use it.
ROTARY HAMILTON CENTRAL
Thanks to the the volunteer manpower from Hamilton Central Rotary, 300 natives were planted in the Mangaharekeke Stream and Balfour Gully.
NGARUAWAHIA COMMUNITY HOUSE, NGARUAWAHIA COMMUNITY BOARD, DURHAM ST PRECINCT AND WEL ENERGY TRUST
It was a joint effort to put on the first Light Night in Ngaruawahia. A fantastic example of organisations working together to produce a successful community event!
As the longest on-road section of Te Awa, the CBD route Cambridge has provided some safety concerns to our users in the past. We are delighted to now have this section on a fully separated two-way cycle path (as part of the Cambridge Pathway project) delivering Te Awa users safely through the busiest part of town!
This stunning PFS-designed bridge was completed this year, taking Te Awa users over the Peacocke traffic bridge, linking up to the Hamilton Gardens to the north and towards Howell Ave to the south.