“What we’re seeing is that a lot of locals are getting behind it. The section has had such good reviews they want to experience it, Miller said. “The fact that you are getting off the state highway and seeing a part of country not seen from your own vehicle has a special appeal.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Taking time out on the trail recently are, from left, Lisa Tutty, Jaxon Tutty, 10, and John and Marie Bisset. “The scenery through there is spectacular with islands you wouldn’t know existed.” The track passed Turnagain and Junction Islands. Miller said people also enjoyed the track because it was challenging and interesting in parts with twists and turns. Most of the track is graded 2 (easy) with 5.5km grade 3.
Taranaki did better than most. The tourism spend in January was $28 million up 13 per cent on January last year. And December’s figures also make good reading – $25m up 2 per cent on December 2019. The year to date expenditure was $211m, down 2 per cent from last year. Not bad considering the length of time the region was in lock down. Even before January’s figures came out the signs were there to indicate it was a bumper month with three concerts attracting 34,000 concert-goers to the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, with about a third of them coming from out of town. Over these weekends there was literally no room at the inn. And then Americarna brought visitors and a buzz to the region.
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Source: University of Waikato
University of Waikato researchers who have been investigating newly-discovered faults in the Hamilton Basin say a fault uncovered near Morrinsville may have also impacted the Hamilton area.
Professor David Lowe and others in his team are working on a joint project, led by GNS Science and funded by EQC, investigating newly-identified Te Puninga Fault near Morrinsville.
His team of researchers has also been working to uncover Hamilton’s seismic history by analysing liquefied layers of volcanic ash preserved within sediments that accumulate at the bottom of lakes and using them to identify earthquake activity.
“Te Puninga Fault is the closest one to the Hamilton Basin, which we have been focused on, so we are now also trying to work out if activity on Te Puninga Fault may have impacted on the Hamilton Basin, and when.”