Raglan’s original City-to-Surf Walkway is being commemorated with a sign telling the story of how the community initiative came together.
Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation is leading the project and manager Jacqueline Anderson is hoping there are locals with photos or other memorabilia from that time.
“This campaign is one of the many stories which highlights the power of community and even though the concrete inscriptions are lost, we’re keen to include photos of the project. It could be from the working bees, or maybe people took photos of their inscription; we would love to borrow those memories to share for future generations,” she says.
The campaign to build a walkway to the sea began in 1992 when the Waikato District Council (WDC) were preparing to widen Wainui Road.
Local legend Kate Hayward lobbied the Raglan Community Board to incorporate a ‘footpath platform’ and while the board agreed with the design change, the funding was not available.
Undeterred, Kate set up City-to-Surf Walkway fundraising committee to bring her vision to life.
Locals were invited to ‘purchase’ a metre of concrete customised with an inscription for $15, many Raglan businesses chipped in $150 each to become official ‘Walkway Patrons’ and local ‘celebs’ agreed to have hands and feet imprinted in Raglan’s very own ‘Footpath of Fame’.
The path with close to 300 inscriptions, which went as far as at Poihākena Marae, was completed in 1993.
In 2023, WDC removed the old path to make way for a fit-for-purpose, fully concreted Town2Surf Walkway and the inscriptions were lost.
“The project is a great example of how Raglan can come together for projects that benefit the community and our visitors,” Jacqueline says.
“This all happened before digital cameras and mobile phones, so we’re encouraging people who were around at that time to check their old photo albums for walkway photos.”
If you can help contact Jacqueline at jacqueline@raglanihub.nz
Photos are from Waikato Times story and NZ Herald.
