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Riding the wave: NZ's 'Great Rides' deliver billion dollar boost to regional economies

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Nov 2025, 9:37am
The Timber Trail is one of 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand. Photo / File | Visit Ruapehu NZ
The Timber Trail is one of 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand. Photo / File | Visit Ruapehu NZ

Riding the wave: NZ's 'Great Rides' deliver billion dollar boost to regional economies

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 20 Nov 2025, 9:37am

New Zealand's top cycle trails are pumping more than $1.2 billion a year into local economies. 

New data shows visitor spend attributed to the country's 23 Great Rides jumped 35% compared to 2021. 

Nights spent in nearby accommodations are up 25% at around 4.5 million. 

Ngā Haerenga NZ Cycle Trails CEO Janet Purdey told Mike Hosking they’re marketing into Australia and the United States, and they plan to bring a lot more internationals into the country to do the trails. 

She says the global market is estimated to be US$234 billion in 2030, and they want a piece of that. 

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