Te Taiao
Te Taiao, our environment, is taonga: a treasure, and it is up to all of us to protect and preserve it.
While you walk Te Araroa, please help us look after the beautiful environment you pass through. Some of our precious wildlife and native species face extinction, and our rivers, lakes and streams are under threat from invasive weeds and algae.
By taking a few simple precautions and some extra care, you can do your bit to limit the spread of harmful diseases and pollutants. Here is what to look out for and how you can help.
Threats to our native species
Kauri dieback
New Zealand’s kauri trees are under threat of extinction from kauri dieback disease. The only way to save them is to contain the disease and stop it spreading into healthy areas. To help prevent the spread, always:
- Use a wash station as instructed, if available
- Clean your gear: remove soil before and after forest visits, and clean your shoes and equipment
- Stay on the track, and off kauri roots
- Report any sick kauri you think you have seen
Pest control
Pest-control traps are a common sight on tracks throughout New Zealand, used to control pests like possums that threaten native plants, birds and insects. Pesticides are also often used on public conservation land. Signs advise when a pest operation is underway, and current pesticide operations are listed on the DOC website.
Help stop lindavia
Lindavia is an invasive freshwater alga that produces a sticky mucus known as ‘lake snow’. We need your help to stop it affecting more of our lakes and tarns.
Poo in the loo
There aren’t many toilets in our wild places, so never miss an opportunity to use a loo, and be prepared for when there isn’t one. If you are heading out for a longer walk, learn how to properly dispose of human and menstruation waste.
Leave No Trace, Toitū te whenua
The Leave No Trace programme challenges us to minimise our environmental impact while enjoying our natural and cultural heritage. It has seven simple principles we encourage you to follow on your Te Araroa journey:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimise the effects of fire
- Respect wildlife and farm animals
- Be considerate of others
Fight for the Wild
Fight for the Wild takes viewers into the wild heart of Aotearoa and documents the desperate battle to protect it. It explores the notion of a Predator Free 2050 and asks whether this big, bold initiative is achievable, and if so, how? Made possible by the RNZ / NZ On Air Innovation Fund.