Tapuwae Tairāwhiti Trails Trust's major current focus is Te Ara o Taruheru/Taruheru River Trail.
We are working alongside mana whenua, council and the community to progress the development of a safe route from the end of Ngā Wai Weherua (City Rivers) Trail at the river end of Derby Street, generally following the Taruheru River to Campion Road and beyond. We believe this project, included in Gisborne District Council's Long Term Plans since 2018, is achievable and will bring numerous benefits, connecting the eastern suburbs to secondary schools and recreational activities. It is fabulous to see the Mitre10 pathway upgraded with concrete replacing the surface of road millings, and with drainage and lighting installed. This is a small step towards progressing Te Ara o Taruheru.
We hope to make safety a priority for people walking, riding bikes, scootering, skateboarding, wheel-chairing, and riding a mobility scooter, while not disrupting car traffic and keeping the trail affordable. There will be community engagement on all options for the trail in the first half of 2024.
In the document Nga Whakaaetanga a Ture mo te Tairāwhiti Statutory Acknowledgements Iwi have shared some of the matauranga Māori regarding the significant waterways of Te Tairāwhiti. Displaying some of this knowledge of Te Ao Māori on story boards will make Tairāwhiti pathways and trails educational and enlightening.
From Nga Whakaaetanga a Ture, "Rongowhakaata tipuna held considerable knowledge of the whakapapa, traditional trails, tauranga waka, and places for gathering kai, rongoa and other taonga associated with the Taruheru River. Their traditional practices guided the use of the bountiful resources provided by the Taruheru and the tikanga based relationship of the people with the river maintained the balance for the sustainable utilisation of resources. The Taruheru River plays a special role in the traditional economy and culture of Rongowhakaata and is of great significance to the social, spiritual and physical lifestyle of the contemporary Rongowhakaata people. All of these values remain important to the people of Rongowhakaata today."