From cycle trail benefits, to HB Foundation grants, to tyre leadership, to Clive erosion protection, to Havelock North Streams & Dams ad HB Music Hub news, to soaring HB flight training, to region’s Kiwibank Hero selections, here are some notable news items you might have missed.

Cycle trail virtues extolled

New Zealand’s iconic cycle trails are boosting local economies to the tune of $1.28 billion a year, according to the 2025 evaluation of the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand. Domestic visitor spending makes up 72% of the $1.28 billion total, and international visitor spend 28%.

In Hawke’s Bay, cyclists on the Hawke’s Bay Trail were estimated at 203,974, down 5% from 2021, while pedestrians were 249,248, up 17% from 2021.

The economic benefits seem driven by visitors to the trails as opposed to locals. For HB, the estimate of visitors to the Hawke’s Bay Trail is 98,485, accounting for an estimated 345,175 visitor nights and $896.03 average expenditure per visitor.

Sound accurate HB hospos?

Here’s the full report.

HB Foundation grants

HBF has announced 78 recipients of grant totalling $437,221 for 2025. That’s terrific, but the need is greater still, with 43 applications denied.

Here are the 2025 grant recipients. 

As an example of HBF’s grantees, Building Futures is a pioneering programme based in Hastings and led by Brendan O’Sullivan. Set up three years ago, it provides practical work and life skills training for vulnerable rangatahi aged 16 to 24, helping them secure employment in construction and allied industries.

Executive Officer Alesha Hope comments: “Even though we’re able to distribute 20% more this year than we did last year, we’re seeing a significant gap between need and funding available – an $855,000 gap in fact, compared to the amount that was applied for this year.”

3R drives Tyrewise programme to success

Hastings-based product stewardship consultancy 3R has led the national development of NZ’s tire recovery programme, Tyrewise, which officially launched in March 2024, and is now the scheme delivery manager.

Highlights of the first Tyrewise report, just out:

• 36,801 tonnes of tyres collected (the equivalent to 4.6 million passenger car tyres)
• 155 Olympic swimming pools worth of material diverted from landfills
• 4,624 registered partners (from tyre importers and retailers to transporters and recyclers)
• 86 public collection sites in 13 regions, and growing

Read the full report here.

This video explains the programme and its multiple environmental and cost savings benefits.

Clive erosion protection

Erosion protection work has been completed on the Farndon Road portion of the Clive River, stabilising around 250 metres of exposed river edge with a new rock revetment and the re-establishment of the stopbank.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) engaged Galbraith Earthmovers Ltd to carry out the work, which was completed in partnership with Operation Pātiki Charitable Trust.

Erosion from river flows had gradually eroded the west bank of the river, which began to threaten the stability of the stopbank, and the risk of failure could have impacted Farndon Road, rail network and neighbouring properties. The rock revetment will help to protect the riverbank from erosion by absorbing the force of faster-flowing water and preventing scouring during high river flows. 

Cool newsletters

Heaps going on with both the Havelock North Dams and Streams project and the Hawke’s Bay Music Hub.

Check out their latest news:

Havelock North Dams and Streams (includes short video on how the entire HN dams/waterways system works.

HB Music Hub (includes latest releases from HB artists and upcoming live gigs.

HB flight training adds $1.3m to local economy

From January 2026, Hastings Aerodrome–based pilot training school Air Hawke’s Bay will relocate part of its operations to Hawke’s Bay Airport to support growth and expand its training capability.

General Manager Julie Wakefield says: “By relocating a portion of our pilot training to Napier, we can grow our operations and train more pilots than ever before. Since the pandemic, there has been a global shortage of pilots. Increasing our training capacity means we can help meet that demand—both here in New Zealand and internationally.

“At Bridge Pa we are constrained and unable to expand, so having the support of Hawke’s Bay Airport is vital to our ability to grow. This is especially important for international students, who currently make up 50% of our cohort and typically live in Hawke’s Bay for 12 months while completing their training—contributing approximately $1.3 million to the local economy.

Air Hawke’s Bay has operated from the Hastings Aerodrome for almost 30 years and employs more than 15 flight instructors. The school holds advanced aviation training accreditations, enabling the instruction of domestic and international students progressing toward commercial pilot careers around the world.

Kiwibank’s HB Hero Medalists

Here are our region’s latest community volunteers to be selected as part of Kiwibank’s annual recognition programme. The winnowing down process now begins, with eventually seven nationwide winners and Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year announced on 26 February.

Carma Anderson, Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod, Dr Roger Maaka, Gaye Campbell, Harlem-Cruz Ihaia, Lynsey Abbott, Neill Gordon, Ngaire Wilma Shand, Pat Gallagher and Tyson Ataera.

Read about their profiles here.