Increased climbing access could enable more New Zealanders to enjoy the Olympic sport

The New Zealand Walking Access Commission has highlighted that more access for rock climbers in north Waikato will enable more Kiwis to enjoy the Olympic sport. Increased public access to crags (steep or rugged cliffs or rock faces) around Wharepapa South means more routes for rock climbers.

Edwin Sheppard from the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust notes "It [rock climbing] is definitely growing in popularity, it hasn’t been a mainstream sport in the past but it’s going more in that direction".

Wharepapa South region in the Waikato is a hub for climbers, with locals and Aucklanders often frequenting the volcanic rock faces with over 1000 different routes.

Sheppard advises that Wharepapa South has about 10 crags, but half are closed for climbing. Most of the crags are on farms, so climbers rely on the goodwill of the farmers for the future of their sport.

Sheppard explains that there are common misunderstandings that stop landowners with crags on their land enabling public access, "there is a misconception that climbing is quite a dangerous sport and secondly that landowners can be liable if a climbing accident happens on their land, where actually that’s not the case.”

The Walking Access Commission helps to address these myths. Walking Access supports landowners, climbers and the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust to create sustainable climbing access for climbers.

More information on outdoor access for climbers is available on the Walking Access website.

Images: Wharepapa South rock climbers. Image top, Froggatt Edge crag Credit: Chris Hailey; image centre, Sheridan Hills crag Credit: Edwin Sheppard; image above Froggatt Edge Credit: Daniel Krippner. All images courtesy of Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust