River Safety Month
Every October, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) leads River Safety Month. This is a timely reminder that rivers, while beautiful and fun, can pose risks. For Herenga ā Nuku, this campaign aligns with our mission: to enhance public access to the outdoors while promoting safety, stewardship, and respect for the land.
Rivers as gateways—and barriers—to access
New Zealand’s public access network includes thousands of unformed legal roads, easements, and walkways that intersect with rivers. Rivers are often part of any outdoor journey. But when they become unsafe, they can turn from connectors into barriers—cutting off access, stranding users, or worse.
Herenga ā Nuku’s work in mapping and advocating for outdoor access goes hand-in-hand with promoting safe practices. River Safety Month offers a chance to educate communities, landowners, and recreational users about how to navigate these natural features responsibly.
How to identify an unsafe river
Before crossing any river, it’s vital to assess its safety. MSC lists key signs that a river may be too dangerous to cross:
- Too fast? Is the water moving faster than a normal walking pace?
- Too murky? Is the water brown and dirty?
- Too messy? Is the water carrying items, like trees or branches?
- Too loud? Are there loud noises, like roaring water or moving rocks?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, do not cross.
Find out more about river safety
- Safety 101: | Knowing the signs of an unsafe river
- River safety skills | Learn the basics
- Know how to cross | Watch our river crossing safety video
- Get the training | Find a river crossing course
Herenga ā Nuku’s mapping system complements these safety measures—ensuring that if a river crossing becomes impassable, users look for other options.
A shared responsibility
River Safety Month isn’t just about being prepared as individuals—it’s about everyone supporting each other to be safe. Herenga ā Nuku works with landowners, councils, iwi, and communities to maintain safe public access across land. By supporting MSC’s campaign, we reinforce that goal.
Trampers, hunters, cyclists, and other recreationists should be able to access our rivers, but they should also know when access is not safe and be able to return home safely.