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Outdoor Access Commission
Herenga ā Nuku Wrapped 2024
🕺☀️ Kia ora e te whanau, nau mai, to Herenga ā Nuku Wrapped 2024. We are celebrating the end of the year and the arrival of summer. To do that, we’re diving into the top seven things that got people buzzing on our website this year. Here we go, starting with number seven!
⚠️ Number 7: In the spotlight, we had info about landholder health and safety liability. You all wanted to know that landholders are not responsible for the health and safety of recreational visitors as long as they give a heads-up about any workplace risks. Knowledge is power, e hoa.
🗝️ Number 6: Landlocked land was a hot topic this year. Did you know over a quarter of Māori whenua is landlocked? That’s about 1% of New Zealand, whanau, and is definitely something that needs more attention.
🚶 Number 5: Walking on that Crown-owned land. While conservation areas are mostly open for you to explore, there are a few exceptions you need to know about. Earlier this year, we highlighted 5 crown-owned spots that are off-limits.
🌊 Number 4: Splashing in at number four, it’s all about water access. Be it rivers, lakes, or coastal areas, you’ve been craving info on how to swim, fish, and soak in those stunning views—so important to our Kiwi spirit.
🎯 Number 5: All the hunters out there wanted to know one thing—can I carry a gun? Different land types have different rules, and you guys were eager to get the lowdown.
🥾 Number 2: Coming in hot, we’ve got unformed legal roads. Many of you were on the hunt for info about how to find these hidden gems that provide access to the great outdoors but oh-so-often blend in with private land. Seek and you will find, whanau.
🗺️ And finally, Number 1: It’s all about maps. That’s right, our marquee products, WAMS, Pocket Maps, the all-new tangata whenua map and trailmakers map, saw a whopping 22% increase in visits from last year. Maps were the star of the show in 2024.
On social media, the biggest stories that people wanted to read, share and discuss were our Data Improvement Project, paper roads, public access along the marine and coastal area, and information confirming that farmers, forest managers, and other landholders are not legally liable for the health and safety of recreational visitors.
Regional initiatives promoting access
Herenga ā Nuku is collaborating with local governments, tangata whenua, and community groups to enhance public access and trail strategies across New Zealand.
Celebrating the data pipeline to our maps
We built a data pipeline incorporating a structured decision-making hierarchy to protect and improve the integrity of the spatial data we use for our maps.
Accurate information about public access to the outdoors
Herenga ā Nuku works with DOC, Toitū Te Whenua (LINZ), councils and other organisations to access spatial data that forms the basis of our mapping system.
Rethinking land: A Māori lens on ownership and access
Private, public…or something more? Our new tangata whenua map reshapes a colonial understanding of land ownership, access, and belonging in Aotearoa. To showcase its worth, we shared an article on the Spinoff, describing how the map challenges colonial ideas of ownership and offers a deeper connection to whenua.
Multi-use trails: When and where they work
At our latest trailmakers hui Ric Balfour (Thames Mountain Bike Club and TrailFund NZ) and David Boniface (Fiordland Trails Trust) talked about the opportunities and constraints for designing, building, and maintaining multi-use trails. They also examined the impacts of these trails on the land, the perception of conflict between different recreational activities and how to manage expectations.
View Ric and David’s presentations (PDFs) and join the trailmakers community.
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