Tags: Access

AccessLegislation
Stewardship land covers 9% of New Zealand’s landmass. It includes several climbing areas including Mt Somers and the Remarkables Ranges. ACAT has been advocating on behalf of the climbing community to ensure that climbing access is protected in these areas. There are over 3000 individual blocks of stewardship land and the government...
AccessLegislation
If you are passionate about adventure activities or wish to have a say about about the potential impact on recreational climbing access, please make a submission on MBIE’s Adventure Activity – Keeping it Safe proposals. Overview New, stricter regulations are proposed in relation to Adventure Activities.  This includes...
AccessAucklandAGS Rockwall
We get more inquiries about the status of the Quarry than any other crag, demonstrating the strength and scale of passion in the community for this crag even after 6 years of closure. It’s difficult to provide a meaningful update during an active access negotiation where there is no guarantee of success. However, we will do our best to say what...
AccessBay of PlentyMauao
Following a period during which climbing has been off-limits, the bolts are now to be removed from all sport routes at Mauao / Mt Maunganui. Sunlive is reporting that the track will be closed for the coming week while the bolt-removal occurs. In July 2020, the Mauao Joint Administration Board, Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao, decided that sport...
AccessAuckland
Dust off your shoes and harnesses Auckland, rock climbing is back on the menu! We are stoked to announce the government has agreed to add climbing to the list of eligible activities under the current alert level! This rule change is the direct result of ACAT’s advocacy on the issue. Sport NZ has stated: “Permitted activities in Auckland...
Access
Disrespecting rules closes crags. This has happened recently several times around New Zealand, and climbers only have themselves to blame. The lesson could not be more clear – all climbers need to comply with the ground rules if we want to continue enjoying crag access. Rules vary from crag to crag, so please check for access information...
AccessCanterburyDevil’s GapDragon Crags
After ongoing problems with climbers leaving gates open or being found on the land without permission, the farm manager has decided to close access to both crags. The crags are located entirely on private farmland on Banks Peninsula. It is possible the farm manager may reconsider his position next year, but until further notice ...
AccessWaikatoWaipari
Although the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust is still being formally established, it has already faced its first challenge – the sale of the Froggatt Edge farm. I am stoked to announce the Trust’s first success – we have reached an understanding with the farm purchaser to ensure that climbing at Froggatt Edge can remain open to climbers for...
AccessWaikatoKawakawa Bay
Excited for a weekend away at Kawakawa Bay? Who wouldn’t be! But remember it’s crucial that we behave respectfully, leave no trace, and keep climbing access open.  The campsite and many of the cliffs are on DOC or Iwi land, with Iwi co-governance, and there is no formally established agreement for camping or climbing activities. That means...
NorthlandAccessWairere Boulders
Wairere Boulders, one of the best bouldering areas in the North Island, can finally be publicised after a change of ownership. Wairere Boulders is a privately owned farm and nature reserve located a few hours north of Auckland, with the basalt boulders on this farm offering some of the best bouldering in the North Island. With more than 50...
AccessBay of PlentyMangorewa Gorge
ACAT and the Rotorua Climbing Club are consulting with DOC and iwi about the future of the crag. Key details:  Please consider Mangorewa Gorge crag CLOSED and refrain from climbing there until further notice.  The access track to the river remains open for walking and swimming purposes. Note that this track crosses private land...
AccessWaikatoWaipari
You may have heard about the sale of the “Froggatt Edge” crag last year. The new owners would like to introduce themselves and they have some important things to say, as both climbers and now landowners. Crag visitors, please read the following carefully. ACAT looks forward to working closely with Emma and Merry in the future. Welcome to...
AccessAucklandLegislation
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 quarry (Waitipu Park), and ACAT has lodged a submission advocating for rock climbing to be permitted. You can read ACAT’s full submission (including more photos). This was a one-time opportunity to...
AccessWaikatoPakeho
We are gutted to announce that Pakeho crag has been indefinitely closed for climbing. Pakeho is a beautiful limestone sport climbing area in the Waitomo district. Pakeho was re-opened in 2017 with assistance from ACAT’s GM Edwin Sheppard and volunteer Michael Donovan (well before ACAT existed). Since then, thousands of climbers have enjoyed...
AccessWaikatoPakeho
ACAT has been working behind the scenes toward re-opening Pakeho crag, and has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the landowners and started re-bolting the crag to remove safety issues. Pakeho is a beautiful limestone crag in the Waitomo area popular with beginner-intermediate climbers and instruction groups. It was closed in 2022...
AccessSouthland
ACAT has received confirmation that we, along with NZAC and other recreational advocacy groups, will be invited to join an advisory group providing input on development of the Milford Opportunities masterplan. The Milford Opportunities Project aims to create a new masterplan for Milford Sound Piopiotahi, the Milford corridor and the region...
AccessLegislation
On 5 November 2021, ACAT made a detailed submission on proposed changes to the Adventure Activities Regulations, on behalf of the recreational climbing community. The Regulation changes have been proposed by the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE), in response to the White Island catastrophe in 2019. They are intended to...
AccessLegislationWest Coast
We have submitted our opinion on the proposals set out in DOC’s Westland stewardship land reclassification consultation document, which affects 504 pieces of stewardship land on the West Coast. There are over 3000 pieces of stewardship land across the country – ACAT’s primary concern is to ensure that recreational access to and across...
AccessWaikato
The government has announced that Waikato’s alert level 3 restrictions will ease tonight to match the greater freedoms seen in Auckland – called Alert Level 3 Step 1. The current level 3 boundary will remain. Read about the announcement here: Live Covid-19 updates: Everything you need to know on 27 October This means that from 11.59pm on 27...
AccessCanterburyMt Bradley
The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust has recently purchased Te Ahu Pātiki, a large block of land that includes Mt Bradley. They have brought the park into public ownership and are now working through future ownership and management with Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc and Orton Bradley Park. We are discussing the future of climbing on Mt...