Rotorua to be cycle city of NZ

Craig Tiriana | 1st July 2009

Rotorua has been chosen as the pilot city for a new cycling programme BikeNZ wants to introduce around the country.

The sport and recreation initiative, dubbed Rotorua in Gear, is a three-year project which aims to establish Rotorua as a national cycle city.

The project will include a comprehensive cycling education programme delivered through cycle safety programmes in schools and community initiatives.

The aim is to have more Rotorua people cycling for sport, recreation and transport, with a view to rolling the programme out around New Zealand.

National cycling body BikeNZ chose Rotorua because it had plenty of potential and already had a strong cycling community to help drive the project.

Rotorua in Gear will be driven and funded by a number of organisations - the Rotorua District Council, Health Rotorua PHO, Lakes District Health Board, BikeNZ and Sport Bay of Plenty.

Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sparc) is also a partner and has committed $504,000 over three years through its Active Communities fund. There is also support from the police, Toi Te Ora Public Health and Te Papa Takaro O Te Arawa.

Sport Bay of Plenty chief executive Wayne Werder said the project broke new ground.

"The key thing is the partnerships combination with all the agencies - it's the first time all of these groups have worked together.

"This is an extremely positive project in that we have been able to align national interests with those of the local community," he said.
 

Wendy Donaldson of the Lakes District Health Board, said it was exciting to have a project developed specifically for the area which would create resources and target health.

Rotorua in Gear will be managed by a steering group and overseen by a governance group consisting of managers of the partner organisations. It is envisaged cycle club representatives would also become steering group partners.

The project is due to start in September. But first BikeNZ will hire a regional development manager who will be based in Rotorua. That position will be advertised over the next few weeks.