New Zealand Legislation: Bills

3 Purpose

• The purpose of this Act is—

  • (a) to provide the New Zealand public with safe, unimpeded free, certain, enduring, and practical walking access to the outdoors (such as including around the coast and lakes, along rivers, and to public resources) so that the public can enjoy the outdoors; and

  • (b) to provide for walkways to be declared over public and private land; and

  • (c) to establish the New Zealand Walking Access Commission with responsibility for leading and supporting the negotiation, establishment, maintenance, and improvement of—

    • (i) walking access (including walkways, which are one form of walking access) over public and private land; and

    • (ii) types of access that may be associated with walking access, such as access with firearms, dogs, bicycles, or motor vehicles.

  • (d) to make the Commission responsible for declaring and administering walkways and for encouraging and co-ordinating improvement of walking access and associated activities.