To the delight of our next guest and those he represents, the 11.5 kilometre Pike 29 memorial track opens on February 17.
The dual walking and biking tracks, which connects the Paparoa Track Great Walk to the Pike River, has been created in partnership with DOC, Ngāti Waewae and the families of the 29 miners who perished in the Pike River mine disaster in 2010.
Pike River Families Group Committee chair Colin Smith says the opening creates "an enduring memory", and real economic opportunities for the Coast.
Smith spoke to Corin Dann.
