Keeping New Zealand climbing

The Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust (ACAT) works to improve access to rock climbing and bouldering areas around New Zealand.

Our mission is to create sustainable climbing access through strong relationships between climbers, communities, and the environment.

We think climbers have a brilliant, vibrant community that has a lot to offer. By becoming more organised and putting in sustained effort, ACAT can give back to the places and communities that host our adventures and ensure a warm welcome for climbers throughout Aotearoa. Read more about our objectives and key initiatives.

Help us out, donate!

Donate to Waipari

/for-climbers/donate-to-the-waipari-fund

Shirtless climber in red trousers on steeply overhanging pocketed rock with farmland background

For climbers

Improve access & the environment

Landowner liability?

/for-landowners/do-landowners-have-any-potential-liability

For landowners

Are you liable for climbers on your land?

Meet our Trustees

/about-us/our-trustees

Smiling climber hangs under an orange rock roof with a lake in the background.

About us

Governance by climbers, for climbers

Latest updates

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New Crag? Read ACAT’s submission on the Waitipu Park plan

Auckland : Tue 24 May 2022

The old Waitakere Quarry on Te Henga Rd contains basalt walls with good climbing potential. Auckland Council is creating a new public park in the...

ACAT’s submission on climbing access to stewardship land

All NZ : Fri 08 Apr 2022

Stewardship land covers 9% of New Zealand’s landmass. It includes several climbing areas including Mt Somers and the Remarkables Ranges....

ACAT hires Edwin Sheppard as General Manager

All NZ : Fri 18 Mar 2022

ACAT is excited to officially announce that we have hired a General Manager to lead the organisation. Edwin Sheppard is an experienced climber...

ACAT and NZAC sign Memorandum Of Understanding

All NZ : Wed 16 Mar 2022

We are stoked to announce that ACAT and NZAC have finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets out the basis of our relationship moving...

Sir Graeme Dingle joins ACAT as Patron

All NZ : Mon 14 Mar 2022

We are thrilled to announce that the father of outdoor pursuits in New Zealand, Sir Graeme Dingle KNZM, MBE, is joining the Aotearoa Climbing...

Progress on the Milford Opportunities Project

Southland : Tue 08 Feb 2022

ACAT has received confirmation that we, along with NZAC and other recreational advocacy groups, will be invited to join an advisory group providing...

Wide angle aerial image of Ti Point, basalt headland with pohutakawa, calm turquoise sea, underwater reef, cloudy sky. — Ti Point, an hour north of Auckland. Photo: Chris Hailey.