The official opening of two new sections of Northland's coast-to-coast cycle trail has been delayed due to damage inflicted by last month's storm.
Parts of the Twin Coast/Pou Herenga Tai Cycle Trail have been open since 2011 but gaps remain in the cycleway which is intended to one day stretch from Horeke in South Hokianga to Opua in the Bay of Islands.
The sections from Okaihau to Utakura Valley and Kawakawa to Opua were to have been officially opened this month but that has now been postponed until later in the year.
Access problems, and the ability of contractors to finish the work within a tight time frame, rather than the cost, was the reason, says the Far North District Council's new infrastructure and asset manager, Jacqui Robson, and it didn't mean that the trail couldn't be used in the meantime.
"As repairs are completed on individual sections, these will progressively be reopened to the public," she said.