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Strong interest in our first State of Public Outdoor Access report
In early January we published our inaugural “state of the nation”-style report, State of Public Outdoor Access 2026 — a comprehensive overview of public outdoor access in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The report brings together national-level insights on trends, challenges, and opportunities to improve and protect access for future generations.
The report highlights key issues, including the importance of maintaining public rights of access, the role of unformed legal roads, and the complex challenges surrounding landlocked Māori land.
How councils plan for access to nature
In February, we published a nationwide review by master’s student intern Dylan Hyman, exploring how councils recognise, protect, and improve public access to nature in their planning documents.
His report examines a selection of councils and analyses the treatment of access in District Plans, Long-Term Plans, Open Space Strategies, and other planning frameworks that shape how communities connect with the outdoors.
Big year ahead for public access mapping
The expertise of our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team is a key resource for everything we do at the Outdoor Access Commission. Some of the team’s recent highlights include firming up a plan to rebuild and reinvigorate Pocket Maps, improving our mapping system, WAMS, to deal with increased public interest and traffic, and a partnership with LINZ to improve nationwide track data for emergency responders.
Sharing paths, tracks and trails
We published advice for users of shared pathways. There is detailed guidance for everyone from walkers, horse riders and e-bike users, to track planners and builders. It all boils down to the “golden rule”: share with care.
Birchwood’s open farm gate brings the world walking in
A Southland farming family’s decision to allow Te Araroa trampers to pass through their sheep and cattle station, Birchwood, has brought surprising rewards.
Final Wenita forests walkway easements registered
The final walkway easements were recently registered on Wenita Forest Products Limited’s Berwick and Otago Coast Block forests.
Groups come together to secure Macetown Road’s future
More progress has been made on securing the future of Macetown road, an iconic farm track linking Arrowtown to the gold rush-era ghost town of Macetown.
Waitohu access to Tararua Forest Park established
A new, usable, publicly visible route into the Waitohu catchment in the Tararua Forest Park is now available.
A guide to connecting with nature
Connecting with nature can improve our wellbeing, with research showing benefits such as reduced stress, improved mood, better concentration, and a stronger sense of balance and meaning.
A recently released guide from the Mental Health Foundation explains how people can explore outdoor access through everyday activities.
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100 Willis St, Wellington
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Manners St
Wellington 6142
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