Wilderness May 2024

BEFORE THE OLD GHOST ROAD (OGR) opened in 2015, Wilderness ran some ‘comment’ pieces that were less than supportive. The articles, by a West Coast resident, variously accused the OGR of being assisted by mining interests, a road to nowhere and a backcountry asset sell-off. In one, the author ‘lets rip at the Old Ghost Road’. Looking back on those articles now, I think: how tiresome. Such articles are great for the letter's page, which is presumably why we ran them. People tend to write in when they disagree with something or feel strongly about it. But a bit like the OGR, which roving editor Shaun Barnett claims he did not even develop a sweat on when he walked it (see p42), I'm mellower these days. I think we're better…

TA'S MUDDIEST TRACK DEPENDS ON THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL I read the article ‘Which is the muddiest track of them all?’ (April 2024) with fond but very different memories. As one of the rarer northbound walkers on Te Araroa, my impressions were so different that I can only put them down to the fitness, skills and preparedness that we all gain across the 3000km. The TA walker starting the trail is a very different beast to the one finishing it. In my case, I regret not taking photos of how my body shape changed across the walk! Longwood's mud is etched in my memory as a gruelling and formative experience. I literally had to look up Raetea Forest after reading the article to remember that section. By then, mud, tree…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $17. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. Learn more about Real Meals at www.realmeals.co.nz.…

WALK SHORTS A Bill soon to come before parliament, which gives various ministers personal power to decide projects on public land, has raised concerns in the outdoor community. If approved, the Bill would give ministers power to approve fast-track development projects on public conservation land without consultation. Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) is not impressed. President Megan Dimozantos said that under the proposed law, many areas of public conservation land will be “exposed to economic exploitation” devoid of democratic process. “The Bill is the biggest assault on democracy and nature that Aotearoa New Zealand has seen in decades … Its impacts would be irreversible [and] a reminder for future generations of how little this government cares about the environment and the places we value.” Dimozantos said that powers within the Bill…

Two bridge masts now tower over the Manganui Gorge as a significant feature of the Taranaki Crossing takes shape. The 109m bridge, part of a $13.4 million project to upgrade tracks and facilities on Taranaki Maunga, is a sturdy fixture designed for a lifespan of 100 years, and able to withstand the subalpine Manganui Gorge's winds and weather. The southern mast is 25m tall, and its northern counterpart is 6m. The difference reflects the geography of the terrain and the gorge it crosses. DOC's Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki regional director Tinaka Mearns says the project is on track so far, despite environmental challenges and build complexity. “We're pleased with the progress. As well as the two vital structural masts, the contractors have installed the first section of decking and some of the cables…

Access across private land to a popular track on the Kaikōura Peninsula has been assured for the future. Most of the track existed on an unformed legal road, but there were large deviations onto Melville and Julie Symes’ property. The Symes family wanted walkers to have continuing access to the track no matter what happened to the land. The walk leads to one of Kaikōura's best swimming beaches and includes a steady climb to gorgeous views of the ocean and the mountains. It follows the route taken by fishers a century ago to reach the wharves. With funding from Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa and the Kaikōura District Council, the Symes secured the route by creating a public access easement. Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa chief executive Ric Cullinane said this was…