Our people
Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa is a small commission with a national office in Wellington and a team of regional field advisors based around the country.
For most enquiries, please contact us using the details below rather than contacting individual staff members directly — this makes sure your message reaches the right person even when someone's on leave or has moved roles.
- General enquiries: info@herengaanuku.govt.nz
- Maps and data: gis@herengaanuku.govt.nz
- Media: media@herengaanuku.govt.nz
- Partnerships and engagement: partners@herengaanuku.govt.nz
To get in touch about a specific outdoor access issue in your region, contact your regional field advisor directly.
Our chief executive
Dr Dan Wildy
Tumuaki | Chief Executive
Dan Wildy brings 27 years of public service experience — 18 in uniform with the New Zealand Army and nine in the security sector — to his leadership of the commission. Drawn by a desire to continue serving the public in a positive, community-focused way, he sees the commission’s mission of promoting free, certain, enduring and practical public access as a natural progression of his career.
A passionate hiker and hunter who treasures time exploring Aotearoa with friends and whānau, Dan brings both personal enthusiasm and professional dedication to expanding and strengthening public access across New Zealand. His vision includes deepening partnerships with communities, mana whenua and industry groups.
dan.wildy@herengaanuku.govt.nz
Our teams
Dan is supported by a team of regional field advisors and a small national office comprising four teams.
Regional field advisors
Our regional field advisors are located across New Zealand. They investigate and negotiate new public outdoor access opportunities, help retain existing access, and explore and help resolve public access disputes. They welcome opportunities to meet local people and organisations and to speak about their work.
Contact our regional field advisors
Operations team
The operations team administers and implements our national strategy on outdoor access, creates and monitors our walkways, and resolves access disputes.
Contact us about operations
Maps and GIS team
Our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team manages our digital maps, spatial data and mapping tools, including Pocket Maps and the Outdoor Access Maps.
Contact us about geospatial services
Corporate services team
The corporate services team keeps our office running smoothly, looking after finances, administration, IT systems, and our corporate and statutory responsibilities.
Contact us about corporate services
Communications and engagement team
This team tells the commission's stories and makes sure people have the information they need about outdoor access, and builds and maintains relationships with organisations to help them improve public access to the outdoors.
Contact us about communications and media or partnerships and engagement.
Our Board
The Outdoor Access Commission is governed by an independent Board, appointed by the Minister for Agriculture. See our Board page for current members.
To communicate with our Board, please contact info@herengaanuku.govt.nz.
