If Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) GM Terry Jones has his way, Northland will one day be known as the cycling capital of New Zealand.
He says the region has the climate and the geography to make the most of growing national and international passion for pedalling. Bicycles were already earning more for Rotorua than the city's famed geothermal pools - and the dream has begun taking shape, he said.
CBEC was already supporting a move to bikes for hire in Whangarei, where riders would be able to enjoy the Hatea loop, but that was just the start. The vision was to establish a "spiderweb" throughout Northland that would enable hirers to pick up a bike at one point, enjoy the experience it offered (by riding to Cape Reinga, perhaps), then drop it off somewhere else.
Mr Jones was at Kaitaia's Mainstreet Lodge on Tuesday with Mayor John Carter, who didn't actually leap into the saddle. He had enough trouble balancing his helmet. They launched the Kaitaia connection, and said it was planned to establish depots in Kawakawa, Opononi, Mangonui and perhaps Dargaville.
Customers would be able to hire helmets, and even hi-vis vests if they felt the need for one.
