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Te pūrongo a te tumuaki | Chief executive’s report

One of our proudest moments in the last year was learning that Herenga ā Nuku, then the Walking Access Commission, was receiving a global award for developing new mapping applications that help people access the outdoors. Our Special Achievement in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Award at the 2022 Esri Global User Conference recognises outstanding work with GIS technology — it stood out from more than 100,000 other Esri product users. 

For a very small government agency, Herenga ā Nuku has a mighty GIS team.

Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa has one of New Zealand’s most comprehensive mapping systems. These free maps allow anyone to view areas with legal public access, tracks, conservation land and property information across New Zealand. Our maps are popular with track and trail building groups, hunters, anglers, trampers and people looking for public access. They can help anyone wanting to explore the outdoors — explore them online from your desk or from the middle of nowhere using the Pocket Maps app.

Another big piece of work in the past year was working with all our stakeholders, new and old, to change our name to Herenga ā Nuku. Seeking a new name was a response to the 2019 Independent Review of the Walking Access Act 2008, which found that the range of Herenga ā Nuku’s activities and its relationships with Māori weren’t accurately reflected in its name.

A new name is also important because it is part of the government’s vision for the organisation. The future for Herenga ā Nuku is supporting mental and physical health. It is supporting connected communities, it is supporting regional economic development, and it is supporting community kapa and other organisations to achieve their goals.

Ric Cullinane

Annual Report 2021-2022