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 TE ARAROA MANAWATU TRUST

Te Araroa Trust Manawatu

A group of volunteers are beavering away at developing a track to connect the Long Pathway from Cape Reinga to the Bluff walked and promoted by Geoff Chapple.

The Alfred & Isabel and Marian Reed Trust has granted Te Araroa Trust $1,500 to research the history of Te Araroa's route alongside the Tokomaru River in the lower Tararuas - Burtton's Track.

Te Araroa head Geoff Chapple said he was delighted that the Reed Trust, set up in 1938 by the publisher A.H. Reed, had decided to assist historical research along Te Araroa's trail corridor. "A.H. Reed was New Zealand's most famous long distance walker and we're very pleased the trust he set up is supporting the long trail project."

Te Araroa Manawatu Trust recently completed marking and rough-cutting its route from Palmerston North to Shannon. The Manawatu volunteers included in their proposed route the 7 kilometres of Burtton's Track - an old dray route, presently overgrown in parts, alongside the Tokomaru River.

"The track has a colourful history, and both our Manawatu Trust and DoC were keen to find out more about it," said Chapple. "Burtton was a farmer, who laboured alone for decades to build this road. He died in the 1940s after a swingbridge he'd built across the river collapsed. Though critically injured, he made sure he fed his dogs before crawling out to get medical help."

The Reed Trust grant will pay research and publication costs. Palmerston North man Ian Argyle has already begun work on it and the story will be published on Te Araroa's website when the track is opened as part of the Palmerston North-Shannon route. That opening is expected in the summer of 2006.

Prize winners at the PN City Environmental Trust Green Screen Awards in July 2005 with their video telling the story of the track from Scott's Road to Tokomaru, Jon Todd, Frank Goldingham and Ian Argyle.