Disability & Inclusion
Our strategic plan, Te Whai Oranga 2025–2030, highlights the importance of focusing on accessibility as part of our long-term goal, Te Whai Oranga o te Whenua — enhancing the wellbeing of people and communities through recreation: more New Zealanders enjoying and benefiting from a wider range of inclusive, culturally relevant recreation opportunities.
Supported by Sport NZ's Disability Inclusion Fund from 2022 to 2025, we worked to deliver a series of initiatives to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of recreation spaces, places, and programmes for people with disabilities in Aotearoa.
We are committed to developing and championing guidelines, advocating for greater accessibility, and providing advice to the sector.
Outdoor Accessibility Design Guidelines
Alongside a national Accessible Outdoors Working Group, we developed Outdoors Accessibility Design Guidelines to help providers of outdoor spaces, trails and their associated infrastructure to develop more accessible outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Accessibility Design Guidelines
Accessibility and inclusion in outdoor education and recreation
A complementary resource has been developed in partnership with Education Outdoors New Zealand, Sport NZ, and Recreation Aotearoa for outdoor providers and educators. This guide focuses on outdoor education and experiences.
New Zealand Mountain Bike Trail Design Guidelines
In 2025, we released updated New Zealand Mountain Bike Trail Design Guidelines, supported by a new, easy-to-use Trail Builders’ Handbook. These resources provide clear, practical advice for land managers, trail designers, builders and auditors. They incorporate guidance on inclusive trails as part of our Outdoor Accessibility Design Guidelines.
The updated guidelines were developed in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC), Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails, ACC, Sport NZ, and the wider mountain bike community.
New Zealand Mountain Bike Trail Design Guidelines
Gates and barriers on trails
We often get questions about preventing motorbike and vehicle use on trails while ensuring accessibility for all users.
We’re collaborating with the University of Canterbury’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and our Accessible Outdoors Working Group to develop a decision-making matrix for future barrier use on trails.
For now, we’ve collated the most recent guidance in a short resource.
Trail Barrier Remediation – Least Restrictive Access
Aquatics
We're in the process of updating our Aquatics Facility Guidelines to enhance the guidance relating to disability, inclusion and accessibility.
In the meantime, we're developing a short resource that includes guidelines and tips to ensure aquatic facility websites and accessibility pages provide key information for people with disabilities and access needs.
Aquatic Facilities - Accessibility Information for Websites (PDF)
Aquatic Facilities - Accessibility Information for Websites (Word)