Unlocking the full value of outdoor access
Belonging begins with access
Getting outdoors isn't a nice-to-have — it's a foundation for healthy, connected communities and a thriving, resilient New Zealand. We work to unlock outdoor access for everyone, building the infrastructure that lets people get out and enjoy our land.
Strategy 2026-27
Our purpose
To enhance free, certain, enduring, and practical outdoor public access
Our mission
Bring people, places, and information together to enhance outdoor public access
Our vision
Connecting people, connecting places Ngā Ara Hīkoi
Where we are now
Outdoor public access is valued, but not yet treated as critical national infrastructure. We help others get things done through maps, advice, relationships, and practical support. We are trusted, efficient, and responsive, but much of our work is still reactive. We rely on our financial reserves to sustain our work.
Where we're heading
Public access is the infrastructure that connects people to the outdoors. It supports health, tourism, local business, participation, and wellbeing. We are a trusted, impartial national steward of outdoor access — using our relationships, local knowledge, and geospatial expertise to focus effort where it matters most, so over time the whole system becomes stronger and more connected.
Our four foundations
| Foundation | Moving forward together | What we're working towards |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and policy | Begin a national conversation about why outdoor access matters — influencing how the public service, communities, and private partners collaborate to use outdoor access to improve our country. | Leading the system |
| Communication and enablement | Give farmers, foresters, hunters, and trampers trustworthy information and advice they can act on. | Getting stakeholders active |
| Operational delivery | Open up access on the ground by engaging with people in a transparent, timely way, and delivering enduring results that people can rely on. | Opening up more access |
| Organisational support | Build an organisation that works smarter — freeing up our capacity for frontline delivery, grounded in sound governance and accountability. | Building lasting capability |
Moving forward together
The commission is the only agency whose remit spans every land type and landowner, and the only one for which outdoor public access is a core job, giving it a unique ability to lead work across government that unlocks the benefits of public outdoor access infrastructure.
Priority projects 2026-2027
Leading the system
Connect communities, volunteers, funders, and investors to build better access infrastructure.
Engaging the sector
We're building awareness and joining up efforts across government, industry, and communities.
Outdoor public access valuation tool
We're developing a practical way to measure what outdoor access is worth and where investment will have the biggest impact.
Getting stakeholders active
Build trust between landholders, tangata whenua, agencies, and communities.
Pocket Maps 2.0
Improving our popular public mapping app, making it easier and more enjoyable to use while keeping the trusted data that people depend on when outdoors.
State of Public Outdoor Access Report
We're publishing a clear, annual snapshot of public outdoor access in New Zealand.
Opening up more access
Make it easier for everyone to get outdoors.
Unlocking ture whenua
Helping tangata whenua access landlocked land and unlock its value.
Operating model review
We're putting our regional resources where we need them so that how we work is fit for purpose and sustainable.
Building lasting capability
Make sure the commission and the work we support are resilient, accountable, and built to last.
Productivity review
We're making sure our resources are focused where they matter most, especially frontline delivery.
Revenue action plan
We're diversifying our revenue so we can do more — including establishing an Enhanced Access Fund to support local innovators.
Unlocking our land for success
Research in New Zealand and overseas shows outdoor access delivers better health, stronger regional economies, social cohesion, and care for the environment. It creates new value and helps avoid future costs. (Heuser Whittington, June 2026)
Generating value
Kawatiri Coastal Trail
We invested $32,000 to help the local community secure access for this 40km West Coast trail. That unlocked a $9.3m build. In its first full year, the trail attracted 32,000 users and about $18m in visitor spending.
Production forests
Mountain biking in 96 production forests attracted 600,000 riders in 2022, generated $291m in visitor spending, and supported about 1,490 jobs. Access is the active ingredient in this economy.
Great rides
Ngā Haerenga generates $1.28b in visitor spending across 23 Great Rides, against approximately $10m in trail management costs. Businesses serving the network have grown 81% since 2021, reaching over 2,900.
MBIE 2021, 2025.
Protecting what we have
Physical wellbeing
Physical inactivity costs New Zealand an estimated $2.3 billion in lost productivity and a further $530m in direct health system costs.* Outdoor recreation is twice as popular as organised sport.**
* Deloitte, 2022. ** Sport NZ, 2025.
Mental wellbeing
During COVID-19 restrictions, 62% of New Zealanders said nature access was "very important" to their wellbeing. People with closer access to nature reported better mental health outcomes.
MfE, 2022.
Resilience
We are developing a national tracks dataset for LINZ as part of key climate and emergency resilience work so that emergency responders and stranded communities have data about alternative access routes.
Success stories
Pūhoi to Matakana
Our long-term support is helping build a connected trail network across Rodney. The network now has about 390,000 uses a year and will support 250 long-term jobs.
Unlocked through: Easement, Grant
Maungatautari Crossing
A $50k grant to Ngāti Koroki Kahukura Trust helped complete the final 4.5km of a 12km walkway. The family-friendly crossing now supports more than 20,000 visitors per year and benefits the Waipā region.
Unlocked through: Easement, Grant
Ashley Gorge Skyline
Our funding covered the survey and legal work needed for a key easement across private land. That final step unlocked a 4–5-hour loop with views across Pegasus Bay and the Southern Alps.
Unlocked through: Easement, Advice, Grant
Around the Mountains Cycle Trail
A $23k grant helped secure access agreements for this multi-day Southland trail, bringing visitors and economic benefits to rural communities.
Unlocked through: Grant, Legal access