Access to the outdoors is one of the biggest barriers​​​​​​​

Just getting out into nature can be a struggle for tangata whaikaha. Once there, things that non-disabled people often take for granted, like toilets, places to rest, and the quality of tracks and other infrastructure, can also get in the way.

Nuku Ora is on a mission to address inequities in the physical activity system and remove barriers for tangata whaikaha in the Greater Wellington Region. We want to hear from the tangata whaikaha community, leverage our trusted relationships with Councils, and work together to improve accessibility, ensuring our amazing environment can be enjoyed by everyone.

Great access works for everyone

Great accessibility is good for everyone. By putting tangata whaikaha at the centre of the design process, barriers to physical activity can be removed.

At the same time, it is easier for tangata whaikaha to access physical activity; it is easier for older adults, tamariki, those experiencing temporary disability due to illness, and, in fact, everyone!

Photo by Simon Tate on Unsplash

A personal connection to the kaupapa​​​​​​​

Our CEO, Andrew Leslie, suffered a spinal cord injury in a mountain bike accident several years ago. So he understands the struggles tangata whaikaha experience in accessing the outdoors. Andrew has worked on outdoor accessibility standards and continues to push his own physical boundaries as he returns to the outdoor places he so loves. His story is a key part of Access All Areas.

Building on great mahi​​​​​​​

Some great mahi has already been done on establishing guidelines for outdoor accessibility. We want Access All Areas to use these as a key touchstone in the kōrero we have around removing barriers to the outdoors for everyone.  Recreation Aotearoa have published these guidelines on their website and you can read them by clicking here.​​​​​​​

We want to hear from you​​​​​​​

But we want more voices. Hearing and sharing the stories of tangata whaikaha is crucial to create change.

Share with us what’s working well, what’s getting in the way (for example: track surfaces, gradients, gates, toilets, parking, signage, or places to rest), and what an accessible outdoor experience in the Wellington Region looks like to you.

To share your story today - click on the button below to send us an email.​​​​​​​

Watch Nights in the Ngahere unfold

What’s happening?​​​​​​​

Access All Areas is a multi-year campaign. We have some lofty goals – including an accessible outdoors experience where tangata whaikaha could overnight in the bush somewhere in the Wellington Region. So check in here and follow us on social media.

As we gather more pūrāku (stories) and make progress, we’ll share them with you below.