Kids take on the long walk
Te Araroa trail philosophy is taking root as more families embark on it, writes Mark Weatherall.
For many outdoorsy Kiwis, there are few things better than a bush track, birdsong, and the sight of forest-clad hills stretching into the distance.
Tramping with mum and dad holds fond memories, and thousands of us will take time over summer to introduce our own children to the backcountry.
This love of adventure and the idea that everyone should have the chance to connect with our landscapes and communities is at the heart of the Te Araroa trail philosophy. For that reason it’s been inspiring to see a growing number of families and young people enjoying our 3000-kilometre national trail.
Te Araroa passes through some of New Zealand’s most aweinspiring scenery and takes in more than 20 towns and cities as it traverses the length of the country. Six-year-old Jonathan Rapsey, from Dunedin, became the youngest person to walk its length when he completed the trek with 9-year-old sister Elizabeth and parents Jorinde and Chris last year.
More families are embarking on the journey this summer. Thousands of others are walking sections of the trail in their weekends and holidays as parents seek to introduce their children to the wonders of the outdoors while getting fit and enjoying quality time together.
Walking Te Araroa in sections during weekends and school holidays is the safest and most sensible option for most families, especially those with younger children or who lack the backcountry experience to walk the more challenging parts.
Whether you walk its length, or just individual sections, the trail brings connection with New Zealand’s people, cultural and historic sites, and nature. Many of the walkers I meet in my role as chief executive of Te Araroa Trust tell me it’s a life-changing experience that builds confidence and resilience, creates friendships, and provides a fresh perspective on life.
These walkers are a far cry from the misplaced stereotype of unkempt foreign backpackers, unwilling to spend money and wanting little more than a photo for their Instagram account.
For the record, most of the backpackers I’ve met on the trail have been community-minded, kind-hearted and grateful for the opportunity to enjoy our wild places and small towns. And while it’s true that more than half of the walkers who complete the full journey are from overseas, they are outnumbered by the tens of thousands of Kiwis who venture on to sections of Te Araroa for day walks and multiday tramps.
Of course, there are always going to be some individuals who behave badly. As a trust we’ve been taking steps to better manage walker behaviour by improving the information we provide. This includes launching The Trail Pledge, in partnership with the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Walking Access Commission, and Mountain Safety Council, to encourage walkers to enjoy the journey and respect the people, communities, landscapes and wildlife they come across.
We’ve also released an updated version of our smartphone app, improved the information we provide to people who register, and refreshed our trail notes and website.
Te Araroa has been named among the best long walks in the world by CNN and National Geographic, and it featured on a series of New Zealand Post postage stamps this year. As awareness grows, more work will be required to provide a high-quality experience for walkers, and to ensure the trail is managed in a sustainable way.
Heading into election year, we’d love to see a political party champion the trail, and provide it with the funding support it needs and deserves. Te Araroa Trust is a charity that receives no ongoing direct funding from government, so it is largely reliant on funding from supporting companies, private donors, and walkers.
There’s been a 15 per cent increase in the amount donated in the first three months of the 2019-20 walking season, compared with last year. Yet far more is needed if the trust is to continue effectively managing the trail as numbers grow.
There’s much to do, but seeing more families enjoying the trail makes the effort of the trust and its volunteer supporters worthwhile.