A community-corporate partnership will see the development of trails for mountain bikers and walkers within Ōhiwa Forest.

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Whakatāne Mountain Bike Club and the Bike Whakatāne Trust to progress public mountain biking and walking access at Ōhiwa Forest.

The agreement marks an important step toward developing a staged network of multi-use trails in partnership with local recreation groups and the wider community.

While the proposed trails are intended for a wide range of outdoor leisure and adventure activities, they are also expected to become a future tourism drawcard for the region.

The MoU outlines a shared intent to work together over the coming months to prepare a staged development plan and negotiate a formal licence to operate for recreational access, trail construction and maintenance.

It also acknowledges that Ōhiwa Forest remains an active production forest, meaning all recreational access must be carefully managed to ensure safety and accommodate forestry operations.

Ōhiwa Forest has been owned by Ingka Investments since September 2023. Covering 580 hectares, it will be developed as a multi-use forest that not only delivers responsible timber production but also serves as an educational platform to demonstrate how production forestry can generate positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes for the benefit of all.

Initial planning and groundwork for the first stage of trails is expected to begin this summer, subject to safety approvals and operational requirements.

Kelvin Meredith, forestland country manager NZ for Ingka Investments, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to responsible land stewardship and enabling community recreation where it could be safely integrated with forestry operations.

“We see real potential for us to share the land we have in Ōhiwa Forest, and open it up for wellbeing and outdoor activity, while continuing to operate as a productive forest.

“Working together with local groups ensures we can balance both priorities in a thoughtful and safe way.”

Whakatāne Mountain Bike Club, which has more than 20 years of experience and manages a network of 13 tracks at Onepu Park, expects the project to bring significant benefits to riders, families and visitors.

Whakatāne Mountain Bike Club president Richard Hamer said Ōhiwa Forest had huge potential as a multi-use recreation space.

“This partnership gives us a clear pathway to develop trails that will be enjoyed by riders, runners and walkers alike. We’re excited to help create something that supports youth development, family activity and healthy outdoor recreation for the whole community.”

The Bike Whakatāne Trust said the project would strengthen the district’s recreation and tourism offering.

“This is a genuinely positive step for Whakatāne. Safe, well-designed trails bring enormous community benefits from encouraging active lifestyles to supporting local businesses and visitor experiences,” said chair Rex Humpherson.

“We appreciate Ingka Investments’ collaborative approach and look forward to progressing this work together.”

Whakatāne District Council, which has been engaged throughout early discussions, has welcomed the progress.

Council project manager tourism and events Tim Allerby said Ōhiwa Forest was a special landscape for the district, and the potential for new multi-use trails was an exciting opportunity for residents and visitors.

“This partnership will help strengthen recreation, tourism and community wellbeing. We look forward to supporting the next stages of planning.”

People are urged to remember that Ōhiwa Forest remains an operational forest

All parties emphasise that Ōhiwa Forest is currently and always will be an active production forest. Public access is not yet permitted, and entering the forest without approval is unsafe.

The MoU clearly states that forestry operations take priority and that temporary or permanent closures may be required. Until a formal licence to operate is in place and trails are safely established, the public is asked not to visit the forest and to follow all safety guidance.

What is Ingka Investments?

Ingka Investments is the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer.

It invests in assets, manages companies, and operates strategic businesses to preserve and create value for Ingka Group and IKEA.

Taking a long-term approach, it invests across six strategic areas: forestland, renewable energy, real estate, circular, financial markets, and business acquisitions and venture investments.

Ingka Investments responsibly manages over 495,000 hectares of forestland in seven countries, focusing on long-term ownership that helps preserve and increase the forest quality for future generations.

As of June 2026, it owns approximately 43,000 hectares of forestland in New Zealand.

Its New Zealand forests are expanding by a net growth estimate of over 100,000 cubic metres per year and Ingka Investments plans to harvest more than 300,000 cubic metres annually.

All areas harvested are 100 percent replanted in the following planting season, ensuring continuous forest cover.

Over 6.5 million seedlings were planted last financial year.