The decision to close A H Reed was made to allow further testing and monitoring, so we can properly understand any kauri dieback exposure and reduce the risk of further spread. Photo / NZME
The decision to close A H Reed was made to allow further testing and monitoring, so we can properly understand any kauri dieback exposure and reduce the risk of further spread. Photo / NZME
Whangārei is, at times, a geographically challenging city.
We are shaped by bush, rivers, ridgelines and coastline, with communities spread across a landscape that is not always easy to navigate.
What makes our walking network so special is the way it moves through and connects that landscape, linkingneighbourhoods to nature, people to place, and the city to the environment that surrounds it.
These tracks do not just cross our geography. They connect us as a community.
For many people, walking the Hātea Loop at dawn or after work is a valued part of their routine.
It’s more than recreation, it’s part of their wellbeing, and Whangarei is one of the few cities in New Zealand where this is so accessible.
From A H Reed and Parihaka, to the Brynderwyns, the Tangihua ranges, Whangārei Heads, Pukenui Forest, the Mangawhai Headlands Track and the Whale Bay Coastal Track, our walking tracks stitch together communities, landscapes and stories.
There is no doubt that our natural environment, and access to it, is a defining part of Whangārei District’s identity.
Recent public discussion around the temporary closure of A H Reed Memorial Park has reinforced just how strongly people feel about these places.
That matters, because it reflects a shared understanding that our bush and walking tracks are taonga, not just amenities.
Mayor Ken Couper says for many people, walking the Hātea Loop at dawn or after work is a valued part of their routine.
The decision to close A H Reed was made to allow further testing and monitoring, so we can properly understand any kauri dieback exposure and reduce the risk of further spread.
I want to acknowledge the quick action taken by our hapū partners and council staff, guided by councillor Phoenix Ruka to ensure the appropriate response was put in place early. Acting promptly and carefully was the responsible course of action.
But protecting places like A H Reed cannot sit with the council and our partners alone. Stewardship of our walking network requires a genuine community response built on strong partnerships, shared responsibility and good information.
That means working closely with hapū, Northland Regional Council, DoC, contractors and environmental experts. It also means our public is well informed about why tracks are managed the way they are, and how individual behaviour plays a role in protecting these environments.
Protection and accessibility are not opposing ideas – they depend on each other.
That same stewardship principle applies to Drummond Track and Parihaka. The complex work on reinstating Drummond Track has now begun. It involves steep terrain, drainage, safety considerations, environmental protection and long-term resilience. The work underway is about restoring access in a way that is safe, durable and serves the community well.
Being a city of walks means taking access to nature seriously, caring properly for the places we value, and making decisions that stand the test of time. Whangārei should be confident in that identity, and committed to protecting it.
