Waitangi Mountain Bike Park

20/06/2026

Many people may not realise that Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is a Focus Paihia Community Trust project and one of the organisation’s most significant and enduring community investments.

The park simply would not exist without the extraordinary vision, leadership and unwavering support of Focus Paihia trustees, past and present. For years, they have championed the project, invested in its future and backed its growth, helping transform an ambitious idea into one of Northland’s premier recreational assets.

Their commitment has created something that delivers lasting economic benefits, promotes health and wellbeing, attracts visitors from around New Zealand and beyond, and provides an incredible resource for local riders of all ages. The success of Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is a direct reflection of the belief, dedication and long-term investment of Focus Paihia.

That’s why this post is worth sharing here. It’s an opportunity to recognise the people working behind the scenes whose leadership, advocacy and ongoing commitment have been instrumental in making WMBP what it is today, while also supporting countless other projects and initiatives that strengthen our wider community.

A heartfelt and sincere thank you to every Focus Paihia trustee, past and present. Your time, energy, vision and commitment have made a remarkable difference, and the impact of your support will continue to benefit our community for generations to come.🙌⭐️

BIG SHOUT OUT #18 Focus Paihia's Volunteer Legends. As Volunteer Week across Aotearoa draws to a close, it seems fitting to recognise a very special group of people, those who have quietly helped guide and support Focus Paihia over the years.
This week, our volunteer board returned from its pilgrimage to Kerikeri to be engraved (thank you Xstream Profiles!) with the names of the latest legends who have contributed to our community through Focus Paihia. The board has now returned to its pride of place above the desk at the Op Shop, where it honours both our Volunteer of the Year recipients and the trustees who have served our community past and present.
Since 2012, Focus Paihia has been fortunate to benefit from the time, skills and dedication of an incredible group of volunteer trustees.
PAST: Grant Harnish, Rick Codlin, Andrew Thomson, Scott Sutherland, Geoff Williams, Sarah Greener, Jane Lindsay, Craig Salmon, Martin Robinson, Ngati Kawa Taituha, Roger Dold, Christopher Williams, Stella Schmid, Michele Wilson, Gary Lucas, Campbell Sturrock, Jack Poutsma & Peter Robinson.
PRESENT: Martin Robinson, Ngati Kawa Taituha, Tricia Scott, Hana-May Nock, Ann-Maree Kingi, Mitch Banks and Amy Crisp.
The board also recognises our Volunteer of the Year recipients:
🏆 2020 – Terry Halliday
🏆 2021 – Kath Williams
🏆 2022 – Rex Wilson
🏆 2022 – Mark Johnson
🏆 2023 – Judith & Den Harrison
🏆 2023 – Nadia Lehmann
🏆 2024 – Jan Baker
🏆 2025 – Roger Dold
To every trustee, volunteer and supporter who has contributed to Focus Paihia over the years, thank you for your commitment, generosity and belief in our community. 🌟
📸 Send us a photo and a few details about a volunteer, community group, club or organisation you'd like us to celebrate, and they may feature in The Big Shout Out Month.
Let's fill June with gratitude and recognise the amazing people who make the Bay of Islands a better place every day. ❤️

20/06/2026

Matariki is all about connection, reflection and spending time with whānau and friends. There are so many great Matariki events happening across the Bay this year and we’re proud to be part of the celebrations. Gather your whānau, bring your bike, and join us for an evening of riding, connection and community under the stars. ✨🚲🌌

MATARIKI PĒWHAIRANGI BAY OF ISLANDS. Explore our programme of incredible workshops, beautiful waiata (music), inspiring talks, feasts, star-gazing and family fun!

19/06/2026

Check out this beauty! A fantastic new Airbnb accommodation now available on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds Estate. If you’re planning a visit to ride at Waitangi Mountain Bike Park, it doesn’t get much closer than this — literally just 100 metres from the front door of the park!

A stunning coveted location, now open to the public. Perfect for a mountain biking getaway and a Bay of Islands escape. 🚵‍♀️🌿🏡

18/06/2026

Another week of blue skies, dry trails and absolutely magic winter riding conditions here in the Bay. Dare we say it!? ... It seems to be becoming a bit of a theme this winter. Long may it continue! ☀️🚵

The trail crew has been busy right across the park this week, with drainage, maintenance and improvements completed on HOOKIO, TAANE'S CLIMB, KAHOTEA LOOP, WAARAKI, MAGIC CARPET and the WAIROA BAY TRACK.

📸 Pictured is HAUTUTŪ (Grade 3) - Flowing off the ridge with sweeping berms, playful rollers and incredible views across the Bay, it's a trail that perfectly captures its name. In te ao Māori, a haututū can be someone playful, cheeky and full of energy — much like Tawhirimātea's gentle, mischievous side as he dances through the trees and sends leaves swirling at your feet.

🌿 And Gals - don't forget - It's Waitangi Wahine Ride weekend! Join the crew for a fun, social ride departing from the Trail Hub at 10:00am this Sunday. Whether you're a regular or it's your first time, we'd love to see you there.

🙌🌲With conditions this good, there's never been a better time to grab your whanau and your mates, load up the bikes and get out there for a ride. 🤙

15/06/2026

Hundreds of volunteers have helped shape Waitangi Mountain Bike Park over the years, none more so than the legends known as our hardcore crew! An extra special shout out to Peter Seccombe, Pete Richards Paul Clapton, Bruce Gordon, Brett Choat, Angus Ross, Jonny Martin, Charlie Witts, Mike and Kylie Mottl, and of course the kick-ass crew from Bay Itm - who support the park like no other! BUT to all those who have contributed over the years — THANK YOU. 💚

BIG SHOUT OUT #14 Waitangi Mountain Bike Park Volunteers. Since the park opened, more than 396 volunteers have contributed an astounding 20,761 volunteer hours to help build, maintain and care for this remarkable community asset! 😱 From planting trees and laying gravel, to clearing drains, cutting back vegetation, repairing trail surfaces and checking trails after storms, volunteers have played a vital role in creating and maintaining a park enjoyed by thousands of riders every year.
The impact of their efforts reaches far beyond the trails themselves. Waitangi Mountain Bike Park delivers millions of dollars in economic, health and wellbeing benefits to our region each year, and volunteers have been central to making that possible.
Over the years, people from all walks of life have rolled up their sleeves to help - students, community groups, local riders, businesses, organisations and friends of the park from across the Bay of Islands. This month, however, we'd like to give special recognition to one volunteer in particular. Peter Seccombe has been volunteering at Waitangi Mountain Bike Park since day one. Over that time, he has contributed more than 800 volunteer hours and remains a regular face on the trails each week.
As Pete approaches his 80th birthday next month, his dedication continues to inspire everyone around him. Never one to shy away from hard work, Pete is often found alongside Park Manager Tiff Holland tackling whatever job needs doing. And when the work gets tough, Pete's advice is usually simple: take a concrete pill! Which means harden up and get the job done!
His commitment, humour and willingness to help have become a valued part of the park's culture. Quite simply, when help is needed, Pete has never said no.
The reality is that Waitangi Mountain Bike Park would not function without volunteers. Their contribution saves hundreds of hours of work every year and helps ensure the trails remain safe, enjoyable and accessible for the whole community.
A huge thank you to Pete, and to every volunteer who has contributed their time, energy and expertise over the years. Your efforts have helped create something truly special for the Bay of Islands.
A very special thank you to Tiff who shared Pete's story with us, and has poured blood, sweat and tears into the park since it was little more than an idea. From the earliest incubation phase through to the destination it is today - Focus Paihia's flagship community project, which we are incredibly proud to continue to support. Tiff's passion, perseverance and leadership have been instrumental in bringing the park to life. Tiff, thank you for everything you have done, and continue to do, for our community. 🌟
💚 THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! 💚 Interested in getting involved? Most of our volunteer trail work takes place during the week when the park is quieter and we can work safely on the trails. Rather than large working bees, much of our maintenance is carried out by small, focused groups tackling specific projects and repairs. If you have some spare time during the weekdays and would enjoy getting outdoors, contributing to the park and meeting like-minded people, send a message to the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park page, or email [email protected] - we'd love to hear from you.
📸 It’s the last week to send us a photo and a few details about a volunteer, community group, club or organisation you'd like us to celebrate. ❤️

14/06/2026

✨ Matariki Twilight Ride — Free Whānau Event ✨

Join us at Waitangi Mountain Bike Park on Saturday 11 July, 4pm–7pm for an evening of lights, bikes, hot kai, music, reflection and winter magic.

This is a relaxed, family-friendly community event with a 2km / approx. 30-minute twilight ride, perfect for tamariki, whānau and anyone keen to get outside, light up their bike and celebrate Matariki together.

There will be:

🌟 Decoration station from 4pm
🚲 Family-friendly twilight ride
🍲 Hot kai, soup and hot drinks
🚲 Free bike hire available — first in, first served, limited availability
✨ Reflection and stargazing
🎶 Music and community vibes
🌙 Optional night ride for adults and confident riders only — proper bike lights required

Bring your bike, helmet, lights, warm layers and whānau.

Free event — all welcome.
Let’s light up Waitangi together.

12/06/2026

🌞 Weekend Trail Conditions Report 🌞

If you've been waiting for a good time to ride, this is it! Absolute gold out there this weekend!

We've had a dry week, the trails have soaked up the sunshine, and conditions are about as good as they get right now. Expect plenty of of grip, and that perfect tacky feel that makes every corner rail like it's on track.

This weekend's trail picks are TUATARA and KAO KAO CHAOS, both of which received trail fairy magic this week. A full drainage run completed on both trails and TUATARA had a tidy up today, revealing all the line options.

If you're comfortable on KIWI FLOW and looking for your next challenge, TUATARA is the trail to ride. As one of our most popular Grade 2 descents, it's a great place to build confidence on corners, rollers and gentle downhill terrain.

For riders looking to pop a few jumps and enjoy some flow, KAO KAO CHAOS is a standout this weekend. Sitting on the southern side of the ridge, it can stay a little damp and technical through winter, but after a dry week and a full drainage run, it's currently in prime condition.

All that said, it's hard to go wrong anywhere in the park this weekend.

🚵 Paihia Mountain Bikes is open all weekend for bike hire, repairs, and gears.
☕ Pikiniki Caféserving up absolutely the best coffee, food and post-ride treats.

So get out here, enjoy the sunshine, and make the most of these prime riding conditions while they're ON! 🙌

10/06/2026

We're incredibly proud that Waitangi Mountain Bike Park and the wider Waitangi Endowment Forest have been featured on national news as part of New Zealand's first connected smart forest.

Over the past year, a network of ultra-early wildfire detection sensors has been installed throughout the forest, helping to protect this special place that so many of us ride, walk, work and enjoy.

It was fantastic to see the project featured on 1News and to see Waitangi receiving national recognition for the innovative work being undertaken right here in the Bay of Islands.

This project has only been possible through the collaboration of many organisations, including Spark, Adroit, Dryad Networks, Far North District Council , Waitangi National Trust, Department of Conservation and the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park team.

The forest is one of our community's greatest assets, and we're excited to be part of a project that helps protect it for future generations.

You can also check out the 1News story by clicking the link in the comments below.

10/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Abby on completing her PMBIA Level 1 Instructor qualification! 👏

Since taking over at Paihia Mountain Bikes, Abby has thrown herself into growing her skills and knowledge, and it's fantastic to see that commitment paying off.

One of the things we love most about Abby's approach is her passion for helping new riders build confidence and discover just how much fun mountain biking can be. Creating welcoming pathways for beginners, women, and families is an important part of growing our riding community, and Abby is doing a wonderful job of making that happen.

We're excited to see more riders benefit from her coaching and encouragement.

Well done Abby – we're proud to have you as part of the WMBP whānau! 🚵‍♀️💚

A proud milestone for Abby, who recently completed her Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Level 1 Instructor course to complement her current Te Mahi Ako MTB Leader training.

A big thank you to Piyush from Treadmark NZ for coming up to the Waitangi Mountain Bike Park to deliver such a hands-on, practical and well-run three-day course.

It was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge, learn different teaching styles and refine how I deliver skills on the bike. I came away feeling more confident in both my own riding and the way I support others on the trails.

My main focus is helping people who are at the beginning of their biking journey feel more confident, capable and comfortable on the bike.

I know what it’s like to be starting out — that was me not too long ago. But there is nothing better than seeing that moment when something finally clicks for someone, and they start riding with more flow, confidence and enjoyment.

We have one spot left in our next Women’s Coaching Course, starting this Sunday.

If this resonates with you and you’re ready to take on the trails with more confidence, get in touch.