Teary-eyed user hails city river pathway as ‘magic’

A Gisborne woman who makes regular trips into Gisborne’s city centre on her mobility scooter describes the finished riverbank pathway between Grey and Derby Sts at the back of the Mitre 10 store as “awesome, incredible, magic, heaven”. 

Kate Nelson is delighted to see the completion of this small but vital link in the city’s walking and cycling network. 

The 100m concrete path has been a plan since the Mitre 10 was built. 

Store owners Geoff and Carolyn Taylor are also pleased to see it come to fruition. 

The joint project between the company and the Gisborne District Council has been in the wind for six years. 

Previously the concrete cycleway/walkway that runs along Taruheru River finished at Grey St and from there a track ran behind Mitre 10 to the end of Derby St and beginning of Aberdeen Road. 

“When we designed the carpark, we had in mind at some point the pathway would be continued and at the start of 2019 we talked to council and said ‘let’s do this together’,” Geoff Taylor said. 

Mitre 10 owns the land right up to the Taruheru River and quickly identified it could not happen without them. 

Taylor said it was “a no-brainer” and they “championed the boundary change”. 

“This made it all easier. Like we have seen with the other walk/cycleways, when things like this are built, they get used.” 

Covid-19 struck 13 weeks after the Gisborne store opened, followed by the devastating weather events of 2023. 

The council’s focus was on remedial and recovery work, so the pathway extension became “a nice-to-have”, Taylor said. 

“We fully supported other priorities and 18 months ago we started the transfer of the land to council. From a community and business point of view we knew this was the right thing to do.” 

Taylor said Nelson had been passionate about making sure the project happened. 

“The outcome is fantastic and an asset for the community. It really is a good news story.” 

Nelson says she could not be happier with the new path, which gives her a smoother ride and allows her to avoid crossings and traffic. 

The previous metal path became a cycle tyre rut, she said. 

“Now it is awesome. It completes the two blocks to town and it also makes it easier for walking and running events, and is no longer an eyesore for visitors — adding value for tourism.” 

Nelson recognised the work of former Mayor Meng Foon in clearing the overgrowth on the old gas works site where the Mitre 10 store is now located. 

She also acknowledged former council chief executive Judy Campbell for fulfilling a Bright St to Grey St path promise, and former councillor Pat Seymour, who was a strong advocate for getting the river pathway completed. 

Nelson said she had become considerably frustrated after hearing of “endless” dates for the new pathway work. 

“When I saw the work had started ... with my own teary eyes on Saturday, May 18, it felt surreal. It still does.” 

Seymour said she was happy to see the path finally finished. Council community lifelines director Tim Barry said the completion of the path was a vital link to the city’s walking and cycling network. 

“This path shows the importance of progress and continuity. 

“It was wonderful to be part of the community collaboration with Mitre 10 to make this project a reality and we especially thank Kate Nelson for her perseverance,” Barry said. 

The next step will be lighting for the path, which the council plans to have completed by August. 

The overall cost of the project was $150,000.