Asking nicely
Published Jun 21, 2018, 12:02 PM
Find out why you should always ask permission before wandering onto private land – and the right and wrong ways to go about it.
Knowledge Base
We have information about accessing the outdoors responsibly - including roads and walkways, rivers and lakes, and private land. We also have information on using our GIS maps, creating new access, private land and what to do when there is a dispute.
Use the tags below to narrow down what you're looking for. The Community filters refer to the type of user, and Tag filters to the topic being discussed.
Got a question not answered here? Please contact us via email or phone and we'll do our best to help.
Being responsible with fire in the outdoors
Published Aug 17, 2018, 2:56 PM
Fires are easy to start, but hard and costly to put out. So it is critical that people take simple precautions to avoid endangering life and property.
Unformed Legal Roads
Published Feb 20, 2018, 9:32 PM
People are often unsure about the legal status of unformed legal roads, colloquially known as paper roads.
The Country and Outdoor Recreation Calendar
Published Feb 20, 2018, 9:33 PM
A downloadable calendar showing common farming, fishing and hunting seasons. The calendar has been jointly created by the Commission, Fish & Game and Federated Farmers.
How do I gain permission to access Māori land?
Published Feb 20, 2018, 9:35 PM
Māori land is privately-owned land and does not have public access rights. Permission must be sought from the owners or those authorised by them.
The Outdoor Access Code
Published Jul 10, 2018, 10:14 AM
The Outdoor Access Code is a Commission publication, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of recreational users and landholders.
Why has the Commission developed an outdoor access mapping system?
Published Jul 10, 2018, 10:56 AM
Respect for property rights is important. So are the public rights of access over various forms of public land.
Do I have the right to walk over private land to get to public land?
Published Jul 10, 2018, 11:00 AM
No. There is no general right of public access across private land. If there is any doubt about access and there are no signs indicating access, seek permission.
What access rights and privileges do I have?
Published Jul 10, 2018, 11:14 AM
Legal public access to the New Zealand outdoors is covered by a variety of statutes and provided by a variety of land classifications.
What forms of legal public access are available in New Zealand?
Published Jul 10, 2018, 11:24 AM
There are many different types of legal public access. This page details some of the main ones you are likely to encounter.