DOC’s Buller District team has begun work to improve the start of the West Coast end of the Wangapeka Track beside Little Wanganui River. 

This is one of only two tracked access points to the western side of Kahurangi National Park, the other being the Heaphy Track.

Erosion washed away an unformed legal road next to the Kahurangi National Park in 2013, meaning access to the final part of the track was now over private land. Herenga ā Nuku, the Outdoor Access Commission investigated creating an easement over the land to preserve this access, but due to a decline in track use no further action was taken. By 2019, however, several hundred trampers each year were using the track from the western end and the landowner was concerned about their safety. DOC purchased the neighbouring private land in 2023. 

Herenga ā Nuku board member Hugh Logan said the longstanding lack of access had an economic impact on Karamea, as the number of trampers using the western portion of the Wangapeka Track had dropped significantly.

“The Heaphy–Wangapeka circuit used to be quite popular. Securing access is a significant walking access win and should also help Karamea,” he said.