Traversing Perceptions on Te Araroa

Identifying ways both landscape and walker shape the trail experience

Abstract

Landscapes come about through two-way interaction: just as we construct a landscape through modification and story-telling, it also shapes us. Te Araroa is New Zealand’s long distance walking trail. It stretches from Cape Reinga to Bluff, encompassing many different landscapes along the way. Opened in 2011, the trail is in its relative infancy, with its distinct character still being shaped. The aim of this project is to identify ways that Te Araroa can develop deeper connections between walkers and the land, so an ethic of kaitiakitanga can be more strongly associated with the trail experience. Primarily, the project considered the living landscapes that emerge from walkers’ accounts of their journey. These were used to write place descriptions for 74 moments along Te Araroa, which are to be displayed on six annotated maps of the trail. The project also considered which walking attitudes and actions are conducive to developing place connection, and which pose barriers to doing so. The project’s findings, along with the annotated maps, may be used by the Te Araroa Trust in their approach to developing the trail. More directly, they may be used to prepare future Te Araroa walkers to set off with a readiness to greet and be greeted by Te Araroa. If walkers see the land as a living being and themselves as part of it, both walkers and te taiao o Aotearoa can be restored together.

Supervised by: Professor Mick Abbott, Lincoln University and Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.