Tauranga resident Michael Geros will be in his “happy space” on Saturday morning, atop the summit of Mauao with a camera in his hand and his wife and daughter by his side.
It’s been seven years since Michael reached the summit under his own steam and it took him three days to recover. His spina bifida progression means he now uses a wheelchair, but thanks to Tauranga City Council’s all-terrain wheelchair Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider and volunteers from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Athlete Development squad who will guide him, Michael has the chance to visit the summit again.
Council and Parafed Bay of Plenty are celebrating International Day of People with Disabilities with a family fun day on Saturday 3 December, giving people an opportunity to travel to the summit of Mauao or Hopukiore - Mount Drury using Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider.
As well as finding out how Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider works, the community can come along to Hopukiore – Mount Drury Reserve from 10am-5pm to enjoy some live music, adaptive yoga and CrossFit, and ocean activities and beach games on Mount Maunganui Main Beach organised by Parafed Bay of Plenty.
With the help of whānau, friends and volunteers, four people will be taken to the summit of Mauao on the day, including Michael, while others will have the opportunity to take a shorter trip to the summit of Hopukiore - Mount Drury.
“This trip is huge for me. I now have a four-year-old daughter, Annabelle, so to be able to go to the summit with her and my wife Katie will be really special,” says Michael.
“I also love photography – it’s my happy space – and the summit is an amazing place to do that.”
Wheelchair user Leanne Hardaker will also be taken to the summit of Mauao by a team of volunteers. She last visited the summit in an army truck on a trip with CCS in the 1990s.
“Since I heard the news that I was going, I haven’t been able to wipe the smile from my face,” says Leanne.
With 27 per cent of people in the Bay of Plenty identifying as living with a disability, Council purchased Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider in 2020 to give more people an opportunity to move about easily and safely without being limited by the environment.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy and play a full and active part in our city. Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider is a great way to access some of the more hard-to-reach spots and we’d love to see more people using it,” says Dani Jurgeleit, Council’s Community Development Team Leader.
“We also have other accessibility facilities on offer such as beach access mats, beach wheelchairs, and accessible picnic tables. We also have a newly opened accessible changing facility for toileting and showering at Mount Drury Reserve.
“Our vision is to be an inclusive city where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in our community,” says Dani.
“We’re also committed to creating a more liveable city that has amenities and environments that contribute to a sense of wellbeing and enjoyment.”
Te Kaiwhakatere – TrailRider is free to use and can be booked through Council’s website www.tauranga.govt.nz/trailrider or in person at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.