Donated fence posts to repair flood-damaged Hauraki Rail Trail

Hauraki Rail Trail restoration efforts are set to get a boost this week, with a $100,000 donation of fence posts and railings to help repair the 24 kilometre section of cycle trail between Paeroa and Waihī which was damaged by flooding in January.

Packaging Forum CEO Craig Miller says the donation of 3,700 fence posts has been made possible through funding from scheme members including, Essity, Griffins, James Crisp, Mondelēz, Nestle, Pepsico, Sanitarium and Woolworths. The posts are made from recycled soft plastics, including soft plastics collected through the Forum’s Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS).

“We are incredibly appreciative of the members that are working with us to make this donation happen for the Hauraki Rail Trail,” Craig says.

“The Hauraki Rail Trail is more than a cycle path, it’s a lifeline for the communities it connects. After the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle and the long road to rebuild, it’s incredibly tough to see the Trail damaged again.

“We’re proud to be making a practical donation to help rebuild the Trail, using posts that are designed to last and that keep valuable plastic out of landfill.

“Supporting the Hauraki Rail Trail is about backing the people and businesses who rely on it, and helping ensure it continues to bring visitors, vibrancy and opportunity to the region for generations to come.”

The 167km Hauraki Rail Trail, one of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, spans five scenic sections, weaving through the townships of Kaiaua, Thames, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Waihī and Matamata, and showcasing landscapes that range from historic gold-mining towns to lush farmland, native bush and the breathtaking Shorebird Coast.

The Trail suffered severe damage during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, prompting a monumental recovery effort by Trail organisers and volunteers over the past three years to repair and future-proof the track.

Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust CEO Diane Drummond says the donation is an incredibly generous and much needed shot in the arm, for the Trail management.

“We had just paid the last account for Gabrielle repairs in December 2025, and the Trail had never looked so good,” Diane says.

“The storm event of 21-22 January, that left eight people dead in nearby Bay of Plenty, was just devastating on so many levels.”

The immediate and widespread economic loss for the region has been assessed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment as being in the millions of dollars, equating to approximately $20,000 for every day the Hauraki Rail Trail is closed.

“Our cycle-trail related businesses are hurting, but it is important to note they are still open and we encourage you to spend what you can with them while we sort this mess out,” Diane says.

“What has become clear is we are unable to put the Trail back as it was, as global warming isn’t just coming, it’s already here, and it’s very, very expensive. This very generous donation is welcomed and couldn’t come at a better time.

“The team who have worked to put this together for us has been incredible, and we can’t wait to get our sleeves rolled up and get the work done. We are truly humbled by their generosity.”

Manufactured by New Zealand business Future Post, the donated post products are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic waste, including soft plastic collected through the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme bins at supermarkets around New Zealand. Each fence post contains approximately 1,500 soft plastic bags and wrappers, meaning this donation diverts more than 5.5 million plastic bags from landfill, or 36 tonnes of soft plastic waste.

This is one of three donations The Packaging Forum and its members are making in 2026, with further fence post products also being donated to the communities of Wairoa and Gisborne, which were impacted by severe flooding at the start of January.

The first of five truck and trailer loads of fence posts was delivered to Paeroa last week, with a further four deliveries arriving in the town this week.

The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme is a voluntary product stewardship programme, operated by the Packaging Forum, and is 100 per cent funded by its 250+ Scheme members. An estimated 87% of New Zealanders now have access to soft plastic recycling, within 20km of home or work, at more than 320 public drop off points across the country.

There are several drop off locations in the wider Paeroa and Waihī region, to find out where, visit here.

Background

The Packaging Forum is a member-led organisation representing the depth and breadth of the packaging industry from suppliers and importers of packaging, brand owners, retailers, resource recovery businesses and processors. The Packaging Forum supports members’ sustainability goals by creating the conditions for industry to collaborate and deliver meaningful progress toward a circular future.

As well as the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, The Packaging Forum operates two additional voluntary product stewardship schemes: the Glass Packaging Forum Scheme and the Food and Beverage Recycling Scheme; as well as the Caps and Lids Recycling Scheme a developing programme which is capturing metal and plastic caps and lids for recycling. To learn more about The Packaging Forum and its programmes, visit www.packagingforum.org.nz

Just a short drive from Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga, the Hauraki Rail Trail offers one of New Zealand’s easiest and most rewarding cycling adventures. Spanning five scenic sections, the Trail winds through historic gold towns, lush farmland, native bush, and along the breathtaking Shorebird Coast. From the dramatic cliffs and tunnels of the Karangahake Gorge to the rolling green hills near Matamata, each ride is rich in nature, history, culture, and charm. Whether you're planning a family outing, a weekend escape, or a multi-day journey, the Hauraki Rail Trail is the perfect way to slow down, soak up the scenery, and make unforgettable memories on two wheels.

Future Post is the product manufacturer for this donation. Future Post is a Kiwi company with a goal to divert as much plastic as possible from New Zealand's landfills and recycle this into sustainable and environmentally beneficial fence post products. Made from 100% recycled waste plastic (including soft plastic from the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme), Future Posts are as strong as timber, but won't split, rot or crack, and can be re-recycled to last for generations.

The organisations (‘Donors’) that have contributed to the donation are:

• Essity
• Griffins
• James Crisp
• Mondelēz
• Nestle
• Pepsico
• Sanitarium
• Woolworths
• The Packaging Forum