My Account
Sir Peter Gluckman says trails are not luxuries.
Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust Chair Tessa Berger.
Ngati Manuhiri representatives Eddie and Delma O’Kane.
Jenny Jenkin and Mark Owston-Doyle
Maria Radic and Kathryn Ashworth
John McShane, Bruce McLean and Sandi McLean.
Richard Pearson
New Zealand’s inaugural chief science advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman told more than 100 guests at a function in Mahurangi West late last month that every New Zealander should have the opportunity to witness the area’s extraordinary natural beauty.
Sir Peter was speaking at a fundraising cocktail party hosted by the Mahurangi Coastal Trail Trust, which aims to develop cycling and walking trails throughout 1000 contiguous coastal hectares of Auckland regional parkland, extending from Waiwera to Mangawhai. The party was specifically to raise money for the Te Muri Crossing, a proposed boardwalk and footbridge that will cross the Te Muri estuary.
Speaking with Otuawaea Bay as a backdrop, Sir Peter said guests were standing within an hour of 1.5 million people living in Auckland.
“How many people actually experience this? How many people in Auckland have never seen a pohutukawa in bloom or haven’t seen a dolphin in the sea or haven’t actually got out of the urban environment?” he asked.
“There are young kids in south Auckland who have never seen this beauty. We need to find ways to encourage them and to walk this coast.”
Sir Peter went on to say that advances in technology meant we were living in a world of continuous change and this was disruptive to our spirits and our psyche.
This had led to a doubling of mental health problems around the world, particularly among the young.
He said much had been written about exercise and mental health, but it was also important to recognise the restorative effects of engaging with nature, which changed much more slowly.
“Trails are not luxuries, these things are key to our mental health,” he said.
