What Aucklanders Have Lost

The reopened tracks are almost all over-engineered

Over-engineered tracks ruin the wilderness experience, introducing weeds and huge costs. Widened paths mean clearing native bush, leading to weeds, less shade, and fewer native plants and fungi to see along the track. This diminishes the unique value of the wilderness of the Waitākere Ranges. We understand the need for some shorter, popular tracks to be upgraded with significant infrastructure, and to provide a range of track types for different user groups. However if the boardwalk and gravel tracks are all the next generation experience of the Waitākere Ranges, they won’t appreciate its value beyond that of a photo opportunity.

We have lost the Wilderness of the Waitākere Ranges

• Kids are tactile and can learn so much from the forest. However the tracks reopened from 2018-now prevent kids from interacting with the forest, making the walks uninteresting except for the destination.

• Hiking on natural, varied terrain provides better fitness outcomes and personal achievement, and improved accessibility to those whose joints can’t handle walking on hard gravel or concrete.

• Separating the hiker from Nature reduces wellbeing benefits.