Funding boosts Motu Trails trust

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

MORE positive news has been confirmed for the Motu Trails Charitable Trust, with new funding support from both the Department of Conservation and long-time supporter the Lion Foundation.

Through the Department of Conservation’s Community Conservation Partnerships Fund, the Motu Trails will receive $25,798 over the next two years and DoC regional partnership director David Speirs said the department recognised that the trust reached a significant audience, with which it was able to connect with the recreational benefits of activity in the outdoors.

“It is also able to enrich that experience by providing a greater understanding of the natural, cultural and heritage values of the places the trails visit. We are convinced the trust can multiply commitments to conservation outcomes in the areas of recreation, historical appreciation and even biodiversity that the department would be unable to achieve on its own.”

Mr Speirs said the trust already had a strong track record in the conservation space.

Along with co-ordinating and promoting community planting activities on the Dunes Trail, undertaken as part of the Tirohanga Dunes Biodiversity Management Plan, the trust had also been able to build visitor numbers on the back-country Pakihi Track to a point that exceeded the number visiting more accessible sites such as the Tauranga Bridge in the Waioeka Gorge.

The trust promotes the Motu Trails and will receive $15,000 of funding this year to further encourage community participation in conservation and recreation, and build awareness of historic and cultural highlights linked to the trails.

The Motu Trails is a Great Ride under the Nga Haerenga, NZ Cycle Trail Network. DoC said the new funding would help make the executive officer role a full-time paid role, to support community collaboration under the trust-led Tirohanga Dunes Biodiversity Management Plan to support recreational/sporting events and work with iwi to share stories and history of the area.

Funding welcomeMotu Trails Charitable Trust chairman Dave Emslie said the funding was very welcome.

“This support from DoC will allow us to step up our efforts to position the Motu Trails as one of New Zealand’s most recognised and popular Great Rides — and strengthen users’ awareness of DoC conservation efforts.

“The Motu Trails already has a good deal of support and many people are right behind what the trails are helping to achieve.

“That’s an excellent platform to generate the social and economic benefits the trails are intended to deliver. With DoC’s support we are now better placed than ever to make it happen.”

MTCT executive officer Jim Robinson said it would allow more community plantings and increase local community engagement with the environment and the “special stuff” there.

“It’s really nice to have the funding to really be able to drive the conservation and the engagement with conservation stuff on the trail.”

It was also awesome to note the Lion Foundation would again support the trust with $20,000 over the coming year.

“That is very beneficial to the trust, helping us to bring local community benefit through the trails. Lion Foundation has supported the trust’s work each year since the start.”