Improving access essential for tourism boom

Tourism numbers are booming right across New Zealand, and each of those tourists needs somewhere to go, and something to do. Some of our most popular outdoor experiences, like the Tongariro Crossing, are packed, and this has impacts not only on tourist experiences, but also on how locals get to interact with their nearest and dearest outdoor spaces.

The impact of tourists (both positive and negative) isn’t just felt in the hot spots – as places become more popular, locals who used to go there are pushed into new spots, and people wanting a quieter or more challenging outdoor experience are pushed further afield.

This flow-on effect offers new opportunities for the recreation sector, with the potential for activities and areas to become better used than ever, given the right conditions.

One of the key conditions for opening up new parts of the country is the existence of access, and that’s where we come in. The Walking Access Commission is the government agency responsible for public access on private land, and we work closely with private landholders, iwi, councils and the Department of Conservation to maintain existing accessways and to create new ones.

We’ve helped to negotiate with landholders to provide new opportunities – from opening up access across a farm to a wetland for community replanting in Southland to creating a walkway to a spectacular waterfall hidden in central Kerikeri, a tiny bit of permanent public access can create whole new worlds of opportunity for people in the outdoors.

The coming years will see the number of people wanting to spend time exploring New Zealand increase even further, and we’re excited to play our part in creating great outdoor experiences for all.

Eric Pyle is the chief executive of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission. Based in Wellington, the Commission has 12 regional field advisors across the country. For more, see www.walkingaccess.govt.nz.

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