Clyff Harrington

It is with immense sadness that we report to our Huka trapping community that Clyff Harrington has recently passed away following a long illness.

As many of you will be aware, Clyff was the inspiration and driving force behind the creation of the Huka trapping group, independently at first, then under the Bike Taupo umbrella.

He has always been a passionate advocate for conservation and biodiversity, combining this with a love for biking, both on mountain bike trails as well as bike packing across much of New Zealand and on many international bike journeys.

Clyff was already a member of the Bike Taupo committee when he established the Huka trapping predator control programme by building up trap lines across Bike Taupo trails with the help of few keen inaugural volunteers from 2018 onwards. The programme grew organically as he galvanized people towards him with his natural style and enthusiasm. He then moved the trapping programme formally under the Bike Taupo umbrella as part of the 4 T's (Tamariki, Transport, Trails and Taiao - environment) values until 2025 when his illness made it difficult for him to continue.

The native bird life and the Taupo cycling environs have much to thank Clyff for. It is great that the 50 volunteers over the many lines that Clyff was instrumental in developing, across the Craters, Waikato River Corridor and Great Lake Trails within the Bike Taupo network can continue the work that he began. He was a wonderful person and great friend, a person who was very passionate about creating this amazing programme. Many of you who worked with him that I have talked to have mentioned the incredible organisation and detail that he brought to this work. He will be sorely missed.