Last year, 800 hikers walked the Te Araroa Trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff; this year 2400 people are registered for the 3000km trek.
To ensure a beneficial experience for all, the Te Araroa Trust continues to foster its relationships with farmers and landowners while educating its hikers.
Trail manager Daniel Radford says that in the past, the Te Araroa Trust struggled to look after their relationships with landowners due to under-resourcing of staff and the habits of a few wayward trampers.
“We bear the blame for that. It’s a long trail and the Trust has always had minimum resourcing,” he explains.
“We’re trying very hard now, especially with more resources and more regional trust involvement, to foster those relationships because they are incredibly important to us.
“We are incredibly grateful for the access that we do get.”
Hiker Sam Tipping completed the trail in April this year and knows of instances where trampers have left farm-owned huts in a mess.
This disregard of ‘leave no trace’ has forced farmers to alter the trail, bypassing huts, and crucial checkpoints.
“Some people can’t distinguish the difference between a private and a DOC hut,” Tipping says.
“Some people don’t pay for a backcountry hut pass or don’t pay the encouraged donation. But from my experience, people are generally respectful.”
In the early days of the Trust, access agreements were signed by both the Trust and landowners, allowing the Trust access for Te Araroa. Over time, these agreements have expired, resulting in Te Araroa’s loss of access, which some landowners chose not to renew.
Radford said this could be for personal reasons, but he also recognises that some people have a doubtful view on trampers. Te Araroa Trust is looking to change their view.
“We put a lot of effort into educating our walkers and we will be putting in a lot of effort in the next season, so our walkers understand the significance of what they’re walking through.”
Previous owner of Mesopotamia Station Laurie Prouting is also aware of the doubtful view on trampers.
“It can become a bit onerous,” he explains. “If the river is in flood, meaning the bush stream itself, they tend to strike that as a barrier…so they sit there and cry for help.”
New owners Malcolm and Sue Prouting often come to the rescue.
“Malcolm runs a helicopter business, so he doesn’t mind – so long as they’re paying for it.”
Despite providing helicopter transport, Prouting says the service has become another part of regular station work.
“We’ve got tasks that we do, and we just get used to it and get on with it because nobody wants somebody lost, hurt or missing.”
Radford says it is the goodwill of farmers like the Proutings who contribute to the experience of the trail.
“It’s the people you get to meet and the manaakitanga, the people looking after you as you go,” he adds. “That’s quite a special thing to be a part of.”
Radford plans to continue meeting with the communities involved in the trail to ensure a positive experience for all on New Zealand’s longest trail.
