Paparoa Track

Regional field advisors

Contact an advisor to investigate or negotiate public outdoor access. 

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Types of access

Below is formation about accessing the outdoors, including how to resolve disputes. Popular topics include unformed legal roads (or paper roads), access along rivers, lakes and the coast, and the Queen's Chain.

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NZ beach 1

Types of legal public access

There are many different types of legal public access. This page details some of the main ones you are likely to encounter.
Lake Tekapo

Walking on Crown-owned land

Conservation land administered by DOC is usually open to walking access but there are some exceptions to this.
Paekakariki to Pukerua Bay Escarpment Track

Walkways

Publicly accessible tracks established under the Walking Access Act 2008 and declared as walkways in the New Zealand Gazette.
river crossing

Rivers, lakes and coast

Public access along rivers, lakes and the coast - including marginal strips, esplanade reserves, esplanade strips and access strips. The effects of erosion on access.
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Gaining permission to access Māori land

Māori land is privately-owned land and does not have public access rights. Permission must be sought from the owners or those authorised by them.

Crown Forest PAEs on our maps

Public access easements over crown forests

Public access easements (PAEs) are a specific form of public access created under the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 to establish and protect public access rights.

Water and stones

Roadways over Māori land

Want to find out about roadways over Māori land? Like more information about how they are created, who is responsible for them and the differences for public access?