The biggest headaches at Auckland's regional parks

Open fires, dogs on tracks they’re banned from and loud music played on bluetooth speakers are some of the biggest concerns for the people who look after Auckland’s regional parks.

By Torika Tokalau of Local Democracy Reporting

"Fire is a huge risk for us. We see it a lot in the remote areas of the park," said Auckland Council senior ranger of recreation and education Bronwen Lehmann.

She said the regional parks were for everyone to enjoy, with spectacular walks and views, swimming spots and beaches, waterfalls, camping spots and native wildlife and farm animals.

But to make the most of the parks this summer, visitors are being urged to plan properly.

Tāwharanui Regional Park is one of 28 regional parks in Auckland.

A recent fire at the Fairy Falls Track in the Waitākere Ranges scorched an area about 150 by 75 metres – larger than a football field or three Olympic-sized pools laid end to end.

Significant vegetation and planting areas have been lost in Duder and Waitawa regional parks from fires in 2021 and 2020.

Lehmann said past fires were believed to have started from recreational users.

The west Auckland fire in November started from embers from an overnight fire near the falls that wasn’t properly extinguished.

Last summer, there were three major fires at Te Henga Bethells Beach, Long Bay and Anawhata Beach.

A fire broke out at Duder Regional Park in 2021, causing significant damage to vegetation and planting areas.

Rangers also reported finding camp fire remnants at multiple locations this year, fortunately with no major outbreaks. Recently, Fire and Emergency were called to extinguish a couple of embers at Muriwai.

"Don’t light open fires. If you’re bringing coal and gas barbecues, be aware of what season it is.

"You’re allowed [them] during open fire seasons. During restricted fire seasons, we are asking people to not bring them but also have a plan for what they going to do with their ashes because regional parks are rubbish free – they need to take their ashes with them."

Lehmann, who has been a part of the southern regional parks team for more than seven years, said Auckland’s 28 regional parks are the most busiest during the summer months.

In January, they drew more than 1 million visitors. In the first three months in 2024, regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau were visited an estimated 2,579,033 times.

Lehmann said they have often encountered people getting lost on tracks, some who misinterpret or underestimate how long a track is.

She said the Hūnua Ranges had a few search and rescue operations in the last two months of last year, all that could have been avoided if visitors planned their trips properly.

"We’re encouraging people to research the park, the track, understand their fitnesses and make sure they’re picking the right tracks for their right skill level.

"Think ahead, make sure you got the right gear, make sure you understand what activity you’re doing and how long that’s going to take."

She urged visitors with dogs to visit the council website to make sure their pets are allowed at certain tracks.

Since August 1, new rules on where people can walk their dogs on-leash and off-leash at regional parks, local parks and beaches took effect.

Wenderholm Regional Park in Auckland, situated between the estuaries of the Puhoi River and the Waiwera River.

Dog access rules at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, Hūnua Ranges, Long Bay, Mahurangi, Pākiri, Shakespear, Tāpapakanga, Waitawa and Whakanewha Regional Parks were changed.

"Just make sure people know the dog rules, and not bringing their dogs to the park and it’s prohibited, and they need to leave it in the car."

At popular picnic spots like the Ambury Regional Park at Māngere Bridge, Lehmann said loud music played on bluetooth speakers can be a turnoff for other visitors, and disturbing for farm animals on site.

"Traditionally, it was much easier to manage because the old technology used to rely on generators and really big sound systems, and they are prohibited in parks.

"With the development of technology these days, and lots of little bluetooth speakers, we have people bringing music and it is part of the experience for gatherings and having fun, but we just ask people to keep it at a level where it doesn’t impact others.

"Sometimes you have five or six radios blasting in different areas."

She said she loved being a park ranger, and some beautiful gems in the southern region were her favourites.

"Tāpapakanga Regional Park that has the Splore Festival, but when Splore isn’t happening, it’s a fantastic camp ground. It’s got a little bit of bush, blue lagoon, rivers, its on a coast and it’s quite remote so you can get away and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere.

"Hūnua Ranges is pretty special, for that bush experience. It’s a nice day walk, or if you’re looking for something a little bit longer, the Warioa Crossing or if going overnight, the Hūnua Traverse on your bikes is pretty cool."

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.