Help shape the next 10 years of Wellington’s trails.

Kia ora Trails Wellington whānau

As we flagged in our last update, Wellington City Council (WCC) is reviewing its Open Space Access Plan (OSAP), the plan that will help shape how Wellington’s track network is developed, maintained and funded over the next 10 years. The first stage is now open, with WCC asking the community for feedback to help inform the development of the new Plan.

The survey is open now and closes 30 November 2026. It takes about 5–10 minutes to complete - use the link below to have your say.

Open Space Access Plan Review Survey

Why we need your voice to be heard!

This is an important opportunity for the trails community. The last OSAP was adopted in 2016 and has helped shape much of what has happened across Wellington’s trails over the past decade. The 2026 review will help set the direction for the next 10 years.

The more people who respond, and the clearer and more specific those responses are, the stronger the evidence WCC planners will have when developing the new Plan.

Trails Wellington has been working closely with the Wellington trail groups to bring their knowledge of their trail areas together in a Masterplan that can help inform this process. But it’s also important that WCC hears directly from the wider community who use, value and care about these trails.

So if you care about Wellington’s trails, now is the time to have your say.

There are two ways to have your say

1. The survey - 5–10 minutes of questions about what you value, what's working, where the gaps are, and what WCC should prioritise. Do this first.
2. The map - Drop a pin on a specific location. A trail that needs maintenance. A missing connection. A safety concern. A place you love. This is your chance to put your local knowledge directly onto WCC's radar. We encourage you to do both.

What to say - key themes to cover

WCC has told us they want to understand five things. Here's how to respond in a way that reflects what Wellington's trail community actually needs:

1. What you value and what's working
Be specific. Don't just say "I love the trails." Name the area, name the experience. "Mākara Peak is a world-class destination that brings riders from across New Zealand and beyond. The Waimapihi / Te Kopahou network is a unique urban trail experience that walkers, runners and riders share every day. Matairangi is five minutes from the city centre and accessed by thousands of people every week." Specificity is what becomes evidence.

2. Where the gaps and barriers are
Tell them what's missing. Missing connections between trail areas. The lack of great skills areas, not enough family-friendly options. More separation of walkers and uphill riders from riders on advanced descending trails. Suburbs with no trail access within a short ride or walk. A lack of expert level trails. If you've had to drive to ride when you wish you could ride from your front door, say that.

3. Opportunities to improve connections and experiences
This is where you advocate for what you want to see. More connections between trail areas. Better trailhead facilities (parking, toilets, signage, bike wash). The Nature-Based Commuter Trail concept linking the city's greenbelt. The south coast connection from Mākara Peak. Be bold, this is early engagement, and big ideas are welcome at this stage.

4. How te ao Māori values and local histories can be better reflected
This matters to WCC and to many in our riding community. Acknowledge it in your response if it resonates. The bilingual panels at Mākara Peak summit, the importance of names like Waimapihi, Matairangi, and Te Kopahou, the joint management of Mātai Moana with Taranaki Whānui. Showing that the trail community values this strengthens our submission.

5. What WCC should prioritise over the next 10 years
This is the most important question. Be clear: investment in trail maintenance and development is essential city infrastructure, not a discretionary add-on. Volunteer groups cannot continue to fill the gap indefinitely without WCC co-investment and land access. The OSAP is the mechanism to fix that, and the community needs to say so.

A few things to mention by name if you can

Trails Wellington and the key trail groups have been working on a 10 year masterplan for the region. These inputs alongside ideas from the trail user community will contribute to a well informed masterplan to put in front of WCC.  

We will provide a summary of key initiatives identified on our website shortly and are planning to hold a community get together in mid October to share progress to date. WCC planners pay attention to named places and specific requests. Some ideas that we will share and you could mention where relevant to your experience include:

• Mākara Peak - completing the master plan; south coast connection; Karori Park as a gateway hub
• Waimapihi / Te Kopahou - walking and trail connections and improvements in Waimapihi, a new descending trail to Holloway Rd,  improved connections to Zealandia, completion and improvements to the Te Kopahou masterplan
• Matairangi - skills area investment; a Hataitai connector descending trail off Te Tuara; commuter trail improvements
• Crows Nest / Crofton Downs - developing a northern trails destination for Khandallah, Crofton Downs and surrounds
• Miramar / Mātai Moana - new trails and connections on the peninsula
• Te Ahumairangi - an improved grade 3 commuter trail from the western suburbs into the city together with advanced descending trails
• The Nature-Based Commuter Trail - an off-road route linking Oriental Bay through Zealandia to the northern cycleway
• Johnsons Hill - trails in the pine forest

Use the map

After completing the survey, go to the interactive map and drop pins on:

• Trails or areas that need maintenance or upgrade
• Missing connections you'd love to see built
• Places that feel unsafe or have user conflict issues
• Locations you want WCC to know are valued and heavily used

Every pin is a data point. A dozen pins in one area signals something. Hundreds across the network tells a story.

Share widely - a strong response from across the community matters

WCC will be looking at who responds, where people are from and the themes that emerge. It’s important that the response reflects the breadth of people who use and care about Wellington’s open spaces and trails not just experienced mountain bikers, but walkers, runners, families, commuters, and people from suburbs across the city.

Share the survey with people in your orbit: riding and walking friends, people at your school or workplace, your neighbours, and anyone else who cares about Wellington’s trails. This is the first stage of the process, before a draft plan has even been developed. The more representative the response, the clearer the picture WCC will have of how Wellington’s communities use and value its trails and open spaces.

We’ll share more about the Masterplan and how you can get involved in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please take five minutes to complete the survey and have your say.

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