The Far North District Council is looking at building pump tracks at Ahipara's Korora Park and a "suitable" park in Kaitaia.
A pump track is a moulded tar-sealed circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden by "pumping" a bike, generating momentum by up-and-down body movements instead of pedalling or pushing. They were originally designed for mountain bike and BMX riders but are also used by skateboarders and scooters, and are accessible to wheelchairs.
The tracks' width allows them to be used by riders of all skill levels, from learner to expert, and an equally broad range of age and fitness levels.
Rain delays kiwi release
Expected heavy rain today has forced the planned release of four kiwi to be postponed until tomorrow.
Up to four more kiwi will be retrieved from their "holding pad" of Matakohe/Limestone Island and released tomorrow to join the national bird population at Tutukaka. The kiwi will also be named. They will then join the population already living on the Tutukaka coast.
They will now be released at Taurawhata Lane, Tutukaka at 4.30pm tomorrow. If you're heading northwards on the Tutukaka/Matapouri Bay road, Taurawhata Lane is the first road on the right after Tawapou Native Plant Nursery.
Landowners destroy feral dogs
No dogs have been trapped or shot so far on public conservation land as the Department of Conservation continues its efforts to locate four packs of feral dogs seen roaming near Cape Reinga. However, Abraham Witana, acting operations manager for DoC's Kaitaia area office, said he had received anecdotal reports from farmers and neighbouring landowners that they had destroyed dogs on their properties.
There was no indication where the dogs, estimated to number around 15, had come from but possibilities included the dumping of unwanted litters, lost hunting dogs, runaways and holiday escapees. In the meantime, four tracks on the western side of Te Paki Recreation Reserve and Twilight campground would remain closed for at least the next two weeks as a precaution.
