Landowners may permit trail access

THE OTHER SIDE: A footbridge across the Whangaehu River here would improve the Te Araroa trail. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 12062-15WCSUPTRAIL

It is looking likely that landowners on Wanganui's south coast will allow the national trail Te Araroa to cross their land.

Rob Wakelin, chief executive of the national trail, which runs from Cape Reinga to Bluff, was in Wanganui this month to meet landowners and local authorities.

Trustees of the Whanganui portion of the trail, Maureen Bamber and Brian Doughty, had been preparing the way for his visit.

The landowners are farmer Rob Craig and members of the Rakautaua 9 Trust. Both own land around the Whangaehu River mouth.

Mr Wakelin said the meeting at the Wanganui District Council offices went well.

"Everyone had a chance to hear what everyone else was thinking, and we walked away with a feeling of support from everyone else involved," Mr Wakelin said.

He and Te Araroa trustee Trevor Butler also met 20 members of the Rakautaua 9 Trust at Whangaehu Marae. They outlined their ideas about the trail, then the Rakautaua owners talked about how they wanted to use their land.

"What was really pleasing about that meeting was the real recognition that this provides opportunities for them as well," Mr Wakelin said.

Legend surrounds their coastal land south of the Whangaehu River mouth, and the trail will be a chance to tell some of the story, and they could have opportunities to provide accommodation, guiding and hospitality.

Trust chairman Casey Paki said the landowners agreed to the trail going through in principle, though with conditions. They wanted the trail to be flexible because the river mouth changed a lot, and they wanted Te Araroa to install a rest area with a seat and toilets.

"The trust has always wanted toilets out there because a lot of locals go out there fishing - and when it's whitebaiting season it goes crazy," Mr Paki said.

The bridge is needed so trail walkers can avoid a "nasty" 20km walk on State Highway 3 between Wanganui and Turakina. Instead, they would head down the coast from South Beach, pass through Whitiau scientific reserve and cross a footbridge over the Whangaehu River.

The bridge, which could be swing or suspension, has been costed at $150,000. It will not be accessible to horses, motorcycles and bicycles, and must be capable of withstanding lahars and floods.

Te Araroa has the funding and Mr Wakelin hopes it will be built next summer.

From there, people would be able to walk the coast to the Turakina River, where a second bridge was hoped to be built eventually. Initially, walkers would have to arrive at low tide, wade the river, then head south, swing into Santoft Forest and take Beamish Rd and Brandon Hall Rd to Bulls.

The coastal stretch would be better than the highway, Mr Wakelin said.