The New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga

Jonathan Kennett, author of New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga, was born in Christchurch but was raised in Invercargill, Dunedin and Wellington. He graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a science degree.

After graduating, he spent six months cycling in the Himalayan foothills and in Europe. He was part of the first team to mountain-bike to Everest Base Camp without having the bikes carried by sherpas.

In the late 1990s Jonathan and his brothers, Paul and Simon, began working for councils around the Wellington region designing cycling tracks, and managing the development of the award winning Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.

Throughout this time Jonathan developed a strong interest in cycle touring, and later road cycling.

From 2010 to 2016 he worked as a project manager for the New Zealand Cycle Trail overseeing the construction of trails around the country. He now works for the New Zealand Transport Agency developing a nationwide network of safe bike-packing routes and providing expert advice to the cycle trails.

In 2016 he organised the inaugural Tour Aotearoa ride, which saw over 200 people ride 3000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff. In 2018, around 1000 people are expected to ride Tour Aotearoa, leading it to become one of the world’s great cycling journeys.