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Day walks, volunteer initiatives and efforts to bring Auckland’s outdoor community together are on the agenda for a new regional trust tasked with enhancing the scenic stretch of Te Araroa trail that passes through the Auckland region.
Chaired by Clayton Wakefield, the new Te Araroa Auckland Trust will work closely with Te Araroa Trust’s national board and executive director to strengthen connections and enhance the walking experience.
The regional trust’s focus will be on the more than 200km of the national trail that passes through Auckland on its way down the country from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
The other appointments to the Auckland trust are film freelancer Stacey Ngawhika, accountant Rob Hargrave, police sergeant Spencer Matthews, school principal Chris Bradbeer, change manager Liz Corin, outdoorsman Nigel Corey-Wright and trail angel Denis Stanton.
Te Araroa Trust executive director Mark Weatherall said the appointment of the Auckland trust was part of a national effort to re-invigorate Te Araroa’s regional trusts across New Zealand.
“Many of our appointments have walked the whole trail or sections of it in the past, so they have an intimate understanding of what makes Te Araroa so special,” Mr Weatherall says.
Mr Wakefield said he and his fellow Auckland trust members were looking forward to championing the national trail locally.
“The trail in Auckland takes in everything from remote beaches to parks, ancient volcanoes, and even Queen Street as it passes through the country’s largest city. It crosses New Zealand from east to west and includes a crossing of the Waitemata Harbour – where else in the world do you get such an interesting walk?”
Mr Wakefield said the Auckland regional trust’s focus over the coming year would be on expanding the number of volunteers working to enhance the trail and strengthening links with the many councils, walking groups, iwi and businesses the trail touches. The trust would also encourage more Aucklanders to explore the trail and was already planning a series of public day walks on local trail sections over the summer, he said.
“Many Aucklanders already walk parts of it without really knowing it. It’s New Zealand’s national walking trail – now internationally recognised as one of the great trails of the world.”
The full Te Araroa trail stretches 3000 km, taking in some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, more than 20 towns and cities, and many significant cultural sites such as the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Whanganui River.
