Hunters and fishermen are welcoming more attention on public access to the great outdoors
Hunters and fishermen are welcoming more attention on public access to the great outdoors
7 January 2026
The Outdoor Access Commission's first annual report highlights the North Island has about three-quarters of the population, but only about a quarter of its publicly accessible land.
Challenges include some publicly accessible land not being visible on digital maps - and a lack of a national framework for assessing access.
Fish and Game Chief Operating Officer Richie Cosgrove says it's a top concern for members.
He says in their own survey 20 percent said they felt access had reduced over the time of their licence.
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