MERCURY NEWS
Manawatū Mountain Bike Club chairperson Dr Shane Telfer (right) with one of the trail builders, Anthony Sutton, from Velstand Trails.Photo credit: Katy Scoullar
Mercury powers youth arts and outdoor adventures in Manawatū
Mercury has allocated two one-off grants, and launched a community fund, to give a helping hand to those making a difference in the Manawatū region.
The first grant was for the Manawatū Mountain Bike Club which develops and maintains the Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park.
The park features more than 50 kilometers of trails set on land owned by the Palmerston North City Council.
The club received a $10,000 grant from Mercury, to support plans for a new trail overlooking the company’s Turitea Wind Farm, which began full operation in May 2023.
Club committee chairperson Shane Telfer said the new wind farm provides an added feature for a new bike trail.
“We spoke to Mercury before the wind farm was constructed. We knew that once the turbines were in place, it would provide some spectacular views for people using the new trail.
A new trail at the Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park has views of the Turitea Wind Farm. Photo credit: Mike Heydon
“It’s a unique outlook, only accessible by bike or by walking. From the trail you can see Palmerston North in the background with the turbines in the foreground.”
Dr Telfer said the club used the grant to design signage for the new trail.
“The first sign is an info board on the wind farm and it’s already in place. We have other signs planned which will have focus on the flora, fauna and Māori history of the area.”
The second grant was for Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North to support an initiative which connects young people with theatre, television and film professionals.
In 2024, the theatre launched the Basement Co-Labs, an event that gives emerging artists opportunities to gain skills and experience in acting, auditioning, voice over work, stunt work, designing props and special effects makeup to name a few.
In 2025, the course is free to Manawatū students aged 14 to 18, thanks to the $11,000 grant from Mercury.
Centrepoint Theatre's Basement Co-Labs gives young people to connect with theatre television, film and professionals. Photo credit: Centrepoint Theatre
General Manager and Artistic Director at Centrepoint Theatre, Kate Louise Elliott, said those organising the event are “most excited” to have Mercury’s support.
“We want to offer the best possible opportunities for our young, talented people here in the Manawatū.
“Mercury’s support means we are connecting participants with people who are at the top of their game in the industry, bridging that gap between dreams and reality.
“Our rangatahi are working face to face with designers from WETA, top casting agents for television and film, the best voiceover artists. This is a rare opportunity, and one they are experiencing for free because of the generosity of Mercury.”
The workshops are held from February until October every year.
Special effects makeup is one of the skills people learn about at the Basement Co-Labs.
The grants for the bike club and theatre are in addition to the inaugural Manawatū Community Fund which Mercury launched last year.
The $30,000 fund supports organisations and projects that benefit communities in the Manawatū region.
There were 22 groups who were recipients of the inaugural fund, supporting schools, health initiatives, the arts, youth, rural and community projects.
This fund is open from 12 October to 12 November each year, and a panel including local people and Mercury team members selects which applications to support.
Wind farms have been a part of the Manawatū landscape for many years.
Mercury’s Tararura Wind Farm was constructed in stages from 1999 to 2007 and its Turitea Wind Farm, which is New Zealand’s largest, began full generation from the region in May 2023.
Mercury’s Head of Environment and Stakeholders Beth Wotherspoon said the wind farms are surrounded by diverse and proactive communities.
“Establishing a community fund is just one way we can support people in a region which is very important to the country’s renewable energy generation.
“We spent time listening to the community to improve our understanding of what’s going on in the region and who’s involved."
Click here to find out more about Mercury's Community Funds