Council working to restore access to regional tracks

Since severe weather damaged several regional tracks in 2023, the Auckland Council has made significant progress restoring them.

In the past six months, the council has reopened several park pathways in time for summer.

Funding approved by the council’s governing body in July has enabled geotechnical assessments to begin earlier than expected, and, as a result, repairs were completed sooner, allowing the tracks to reopen ahead of schedule.

Regional Parks Manager Scott De Silva says this momentum is driven by the council’s goal to provide everyone with ongoing access to nature and the many opportunities that Tāmaki Makaurau regional park tracks offer.

“The great progress we’ve made over the past few months supports our vision, which is about access and opportunities. We know how much Aucklanders love our 28 regional parks, and we are working hard to bring each one that was impacted back to world-class standards,” De Silva says.

Recently restored tracks include the Zig Zag Track, Ahuahu Track, Winstone Track, and the Lookout and Quarry Tracks in Muriwai. Due to a fire in late October, the Fairy Falls Track has been closed after reopening briefly.

Large sections of walking tracks throughout the Hūnua Ranges remain closed to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.

Visitors are reminded to check the weather forecast and always use cleaning stations when entering and leaving tracks to prevent the spread of kauri dieback and protect our kauri trees.

“In less than three years, we’re almost back to where we started, before the 2023 weather events forced 49 tracks in the west to close,” says De Silva.

This update outlines significant progress made since April 2025 to renew and reopen tracks damaged during the severe weather events of 2023.