Latest updates

AccessLegislation

ACAT opposes the Treaty Principles Bill

ACAT firmly opposes the Treaty Principles Bill and will be making a submission against it. The Bill fundamentally contradicts the principles and spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which we honour as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. As an organisation dedicated to preserving and regaining climbing access throughout Aotearoa, we recognise...
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AccessWaikatoBayley Road

Bayley Road crag reopens!

ACAT is thrilled to announce that Roadside and River Wall at Bayleys will reopen to climbers from Saturday 14 December 2024, after seven years of closure.  Bayley Road is a high-quality ignimbrite crag in the Wharepapa South region. Its accessibility and grade range make it well suited to beginner and intermediate climbers and groups. ...
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Read ACAT's 2024 Annual Report

It has been another eventful year, with ACAT continuing to support, facilitate, and occasionally lead access efforts around Aotearoa New Zealand. We have contributed to many community-driven projects this year, including at Pakeho, the Castle Hill Basin crags, the Darrans, and many other important crags.  Read more including our new Strategic...
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AccessLegislation

Outdoor recreation groups call for health and safety law changes to protect public access

A coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders in the outdoor recreation community has come together in a powerful call for legislative reform. In a joint submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), twelve leading recreation groups have urged the government to amend health and safety...
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AccessWaikatoPakeho

Pakeho crag reopens!

ACAT is stoked to announce that Pakeho will reopen to the public from the weekend of 9-10 November 2024. The crag reopens thanks to a massive community effort and crag-wide rebolting work that cost over $15,000.  Incredibly, the crag has also doubled in size! The original 68 routes plus 16 re-discovered routes have all been rebolted with 316-...
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AccessWaikatoSheridan Hills

Sheridan Hills access update

This Waikato farmland crag remains open and the toilet has been moved, thanks to the support of the landowners and volunteer work from the local climbing community. ACAT and the climbing community thank the landowners Craig and Julie Wards for their continued generosity in welcoming climbers onto their property. Access requirementsCompliance by...
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AccessBay of PlentyMangorewa Gorge

Mangōrewa Gorge progress update

ACAT has been working closely with climbers, Rotorua Climbing Club, DOC, Tapuika iwi, and the Outdoor Access Commission over the past year, and we are now seeing signs of progress. Mangōrewa has been a top priority for ACAT since DOC investigated the crag last year. We have put a lot of work into discussions with DOC and Tapuika iwi to address...
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AccessLegislation

ACAT intervenes in White Island case to address landowner liability concerns

The Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust (ACAT) will represent the interests of climbers and the outdoor recreation community in the upcoming High Court appeal by Whakaari Management Ltd.  ACAT is joining the proceedings as a third party to advocate for a judgment that goes some way to allaying landowners’ liability concerns regarding climber...
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AccessWaikatoWharepapa Rock

Wharepapa Rock cleanup done but access threatened by non-payment of fees

Cleanup work after the 2023 tree fall damage is now mostly complete, and the crag is seeing considerable traffic – but future access remains uncertain because many climbers are not registering or paying the crag access fee. Recent observations of climber numbers at the crag vs registrations suggest that only a small minority of recreational...
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AccessWaikatoPakeho

Pakeho Crag re-opening project update

Since ACAT signed an MOU with the Pakeho landowners in January, Chris Hailey has been leading an epic community effort to get the crag ready for re-opening.  The main job has been re-bolting the existing routes with glue-in 316-grade stainless steel eye-bolts, so we can assure the landowners that all climbs have been safety-checked and the...
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AccessWaikatoKinloch K1

Climbing at Kinloch K1 crag not recommended

The Kinloch K1 crag sits on a section of Maori land called the Whangamata No. 3 block, owned by an Ahu Whenua Trust. Over the past year, ACAT has been working with one of the Trustees to resolve issues around a wāhi tapu site at the crag. Unfortunately, there has been some disagreement within the wider owners’ group as to whether the land should...
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AccessWaikatoPakeho

Progress on Pakeho crag

ACAT has been working behind the scenes toward re-opening Pakeho crag, and has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the landowners and started re-bolting the crag. Pakeho is a beautiful limestone crag in the Waitomo area popular with beginner-intermediate climbers and instruction groups. It was closed in 2022 for reasons including...
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NorthlandAccessWairere Boulders

Introducing the Wairere Boulders - Northland’s best-kept secret

Wairere Boulders, one of the best bouldering areas in the North Island, can finally be publicised after a change of ownership. Wairere Boulders is a privately owned farm and nature reserve located a few hours north of Auckland, with the basalt boulders on this farm offering some of the best bouldering in the North Island. With more than 50...
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About us

Read ACAT's 2023 annual report

ACAT's Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 11 December, where the annual report was presented. The past year has been a period of consolidation for ACAT, building on the initial effort to set up the new organisation over the previous 18 months. With ongoing work occurring to develop robust finances, governance, and systems, we have...
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AccessBay of PlentyMangorewa Gorge

Mangorewa Gorge crag interim closure notice

ACAT and the Rotorua Climbing Club are consulting with DOC and iwi about the future of the crag. Key details:  Please consider Mangorewa Gorge crag CLOSED and refrain from climbing there until further notice.  The access track to the river remains open for walking and swimming purposes. Note that this track crosses private land...
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AccessWaikatoKinloch K1

Wāhi tapu site and closed climbs at Kinloch K1

ACAT and local climbers have been discussing climbing at Kinloch with the Trust representing the landowners. We are excited to finally be talking with the right people and forging a positive connection between climbers and iwi in the area. Many thanks to Taupō locals Anthea and Michael for making these connections. For several years there has...
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Donations

Apply or donate to the Kimi Worrell Fund

ACAT administers the Kimi Worrell Fund, which supports safe climbing access in New Zealand. Kimi tragically passed away in 2018 when a fixed line she was using to access a rap station snapped. The Kimi Worrell Fund was set up by Kimi’s close friends and family with funds raised from the climbing community. The fund aims to replace perishable and...
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AccessAucklandAGS Rockwall

AGS Rockwall / Mt Eden Quarry update

We get more inquiries about the status of the Quarry than any other crag, demonstrating the strength and scale of passion in the community for this crag even after 6 years of closure. It’s difficult to provide a meaningful update during an active access negotiation where there is no guarantee of success. However, we will do our best to say what...
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About us

Read ACAT's 2022 annual report

ACAT held our AGM on Monday 12 December, and presented our annual report. The past two years have been a whirlwind as we worked to build this ship and sail it at the same time. Over the past 18 months we have successfully established ACAT as a new organisation that is already making a difference to climbing access around New Zealand. We...
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AccessWest CoastTuriwhate

Turiwhati crag opens in Westland

Westland’s newest rock climbing area is very much alpine sport climbing that fits with the rugged landscape. Clean, fine-grained granite soaked in evening sun, with a little alpine vegetation to dry your fingers on.  Generously coined the ‘Yosemite of Te Tai Poutini’, the Turiwhati climbing project now sports 13 bolted pitches. Routes...
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