Big Omaha Trail field visit with Ian Macdonald
Photo by Dot Dalziel

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Newsletter - Spring 2018

Ngā mihi o te kōanga – spring greetings to all.

We want to keep you connected with good opportunities for enhancing public access in Tāmaki Makaurau – the Auckland region.


Securing outdoor access in a growing Auckland

With Mayor Phil Goff’s support, we are safeguarding public outdoors access. We need to act now, because Auckland is growing fast, creating new urban areas, and revitalising parts of the existing city.

Our work includes:

  • working on public access opportunities in infrastructure corridors
  • working with Council on subdivision developments – this will help consenting teams to understand and implement change in line with Environment Court decision Matakana Coast Trails Trust vs. API and Auckland Council
  • commenting on the public access requirements on Auckland Transport’s early advisory list of Unformed Legal Road closure proposals.

SHOUT OUT: Congratulations and thanks to Allison Roe for arranging our meeting with Mayor Goff. The mayor was quick to grasp the opportunities we presented him – and acknowledges there is work to do to remove barriers to trail building.


Pūhoi to Pākiri tracks and trails

Bevan Woodward has been working on a project plan for Pūhoi to Pākiri tracks and trails.  The network map is available online here.

The projects ready for construction works are:

  • Snells Beach to Warkworth
  • Matakana to Warkworth
  • Point Wells to Matakana
  • Omaha Beach Community Centre to Broadlands Drive

We are now looking into potential sources of funding, which are likely to be a mix of Council, charity and community fund-raising.  Bevan is also working with the Big Omaha Trail, Snells Beach Residents & Ratepayers, Matakana Community Group and Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust on developing their plans.

We are excited to have Lincoln University’s Mick Abbott working with us to develop the theme and narrative of what it is that makes our trail network so special.

Mick Abbott (Lincoln University), Allison Roe (Matakana Coast Trails Trust) and Cimino Cole (Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust)

Mick Abbott (Lincoln University), Allison Roe (Matakana Coast Trails Trust) and Cimino Cole (Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust)

To keep the network visible in longer-term planning, Bevan has been involved in the Warkworth structure planning and NZTA’s projects relating to State Highway 1. See also Future Transport Corridors below.


Next regional trail leaders' meeting

The Matakana workshop in May showed that trail building communities of the region want to work together to support, enable and celebrate tracks and trails.  We will hold a follow-up meeting in spring in the Clevedon/Maraetai area.


Clevedon trails river ramble - Hololio Farm

Clevedon River Ramble 27 May 2018. Photo credit: Josephine Elworthy

Clevedon River Ramble 27 May 2018. Photo credit: Josephine Elworthy

In May the Clevedon Trails Group held the inaugural River Ramble along the banks of the Wairoa River. The ramble followed the farm track that is the basis for the Bridge-to-Bridge trail. It showcased trails that are under construction or planned as part of the Clevedon Precinct. The ramble also let people give feedback on track surfacing and share ideas for further trails development in the area.

Hololio farms’ Bridge-to-Bridge Bridle Trail will be open by invitation to community organisations and community fundraising events. Eventually, the trail will be open for public access. But in the meantime, Hololio Farms is testing how walking and riding the trails works with the Polo season influx of visitors to the property in late spring, summer and early autumn.

River Ramble Map

River Ramble Map

Future transport corridors

We are working with Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth Alliance to understand the outdoor access and connectivity needs of communities in high-growth areas. The Alliance is consulting with the public on protecting a transport corridor in north Auckland.

Consultation (feedback) for the corridor protection work in Warkworth and North Auckland closes 5pm Friday 7 September 2018 - see the Supporting Growth website.


Kauri Dieback – Biosecurity issues in the outdoors

We’re often asked what the Commission’s policy on Kauri Dieback is. The answer is simple: we don’t have a policy (it’s not our area of expertise), but we are busy promoting kauri-safe recreation alternatives. This work includes working with the NZ Recreation Association, working to support kauri-safe access with private landowners, and raising awareness in the trail building community.

Kauri Dieback


Aspinall Scholarship – Researching incentives for greenways

Holly Stevens

Holly Stevens

We continue to support private landowners to understand and embrace public access opportunities. Our 2018 Aspinall Scholarship holder, Holly Stevens, is completing her honours year in urban planning (University of Auckland). As an Aspinall Scholarship recipient, she is researching incentives for private landholders and residential property developers to incorporate greenways into their developments. We will share results of her research with the tracks and trails community.

If you know of residential developers in your area that could assist Holly in her research, please contact her by email: hste555@aucklanduni.ac.nz