Today, Te Araroa is on a journey to become a regenerative trail: a journey of collaboration, of partnership, and of shared stewardship.
Whakahou is our commitment to renew, refresh and regenerate, and it guides everything we do.
Regeneration for Te Araroa means:
- Supporting the purposes and aspirations of mana whenua
- Protecting and enhancing biodiversity along the trail corridor
- Supporting local businesses and fostering economic opportunities
- Improving the trail and its infrastructure whilst minimising environmental impacts
- Providing a walking experience that enhances the wellbeing of walkers and communities.
Our goal: to make Te Araroa a regenerative trail.
We are just starting out on this journey, and there is a lot of work to do. Read about the outcomes we are aiming to achieve in the short, medium and long term, and the progress we have made so far.
Our current priorities
- Strengthening relationships with iwi, hapū and whānau along the trail route.
- Forming partnerships with regenerative organisations along the trail corridor, and diverting $10 from each walker and supporter registration to projects that regenerate nature, via the Whakahou Nature Fund.
- Piloting a range of opportunities for walkers to engage in regenerative activities as part of their walk.
- Developing and embedding Sustainable Trail Management Principles, including locally sourced, low-emission materials, sustainable construction techniques and social procurement.
- Funding native planting along the trail corridor, reducing maintenance needs and increasing biodiversity (planted trees provide shade that suppresses weeds and reduces the need for spraying).
- Developing story panels along the trail that inspire walkers to care for Te Taiao on their journey.
- Seeking funding to carry out a trail capacity assessment to understand sustainable walker numbers.
- Forming a group of Whakahou Advisors with expertise across our regenerative impact areas (environment, social, wellbeing, economic, infrastructure) to guide our journey.
- Developing measures so we can track progress towards regenerative outcomes and hold ourselves accountable.
- Becoming an Impact Investor with the Sustainable Business Network, building our capability around sustainability and nature regeneration.
- Taking the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment and embedding the Tiaki Promise in our mahi.
Regenerative stories
Community turns out to restore native forest on the Puketotara Track
July 8, 2026Community spirit was on full display on the Pukeatotara of the track in late May, when 55 volunteers — including a busload…
Te Araroa Trust Joins 1% for the Planet – Another Step Towards a Thriving Trail
October 20, 2025We’re excited to share that Te Araroa Trust is now part of the 1% for the Planet Environmental Partners network – a…
Wilding Pine Volunteer Day – 14 Feb
January 15, 2025We’re excited to team up with Wilding Free Mackenzie once again this year! This amazing charitable trust is dedicated to raising awareness…
Partnering to Protect Pekapeka
December 18, 2024This year, we’re partnering with Ngāti Kuia and Forest & Bird to support biodiversity in Te Hoiere, Pelorus Bridge. Every registered Te…
Tree planting and trail maintenance go hand in hand
September 25, 2024On September 7th, our community came together at the Puketi Forest Campsite to plant 780 trees, led by Te Araroa Northland trustees…
Regenerating nature in Motopōhue – Bluff Hill
March 24, 2024We are thrilled that over 1,200 native plants were planted during the Bluff Hill/Motopōhue Environment Trust’s volunteer day on 13 March. This…
Smiles all round tackling wilding pines
March 22, 2024On 14 March Te Araroa walkers joined forces with Mackenzie locals to cut down wilding pines and protect the indigenous tussock grasslands…
Wilding Free Mackenzie Volunteer Day – Why cut wilding pines?
March 7, 2024We have Teamed up with Wilding Free Mackenzie, an amazing charitable trust focused on raising awareness of wilding pines as a significant…
Every Te Araroa walker funds a native tree
March 6, 2024This year we partnered with Trees that Count, enabling every Te Araroa walker and supporter to fund the planting of a native…
Help us regenerate the trail for the generations who walk it next.