Punakaiki end of Paparoa Track Photo: RNZ / Conan Young
The amount of funding required to keep the country's 23 Great Rides up to scratch will need to double in the next ten years, or some trails will degrade to the point they face losing their 'great ride' status.
The rides, which are used equally by cyclists and walkers, were set up in 2009 by Government with the intent of eventually being self-funding.
And while the trails' economic benefits to the regions they are in, are exceptional, these benefits do not flow back directly into track maintenance and upgrades.
There are no direct revenue-gathering options for the trusts that operate the trails, and earlier this year officials from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment warned Tourism Minister Louise Upston that the status quo had become unsustainable.
An estimated $160 million is required to maintain and enhance the rides, over the next ten years - that's double the amount NZ Cycle Trust is currently allocated from the Government.
Geoff Gabites owns NZ Cycle Journeys - a company that runs cycle hire and luggage transfer services across five of the trails, and James Bell who works in Ohakune at the ski and bike hire firm TCB.
This story was produced by Emma Hatton. emma.hatton@rnz.co.nz
