Luke Oldfield
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai | Conservation House
Victoria University of Wellington
18-32 Manners Street, Wellington 6011
[FYI request #32566 email]
PO Box 10420, Wel ington 6140
[email address]
12 November 2025
Ref: OIAD-5750
Tēnā koe Luke
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 14 October 2025,
in which you asked for:
1. Copy of the Cabinet Briefing from the Department of Conservation to the Hon. Tama Potaka,
as reported in The Press on August 3, 2024.
2. Any subsequent briefings to the Hon. Tama Potaka (as Conservation Minister) regarding the
proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-toa/Clarence River.
3. Outline of any Department of Conservation expenditures specifically related to the
development of the proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-toa/
Clarence River (between October 13, 2023, and October 10, 2025).
4. Update on progress related to the proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-
toa/Clarence River since the report in The Press on August 3, 2024.
5. Summary of the alternative tracks in the area mentioned, as reported in The Press on August
3, 2024, e.g., start and end points, length, huts, and number of overnight stops.
6. Outline of Department of Conservation expenditures specifical y related to the development
of the aforementioned alternative tracks (between October 13, 2023, and October 10, 2025).
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA).
Your questions and our responses are listed below.
1. Copy of the Cabinet Briefing from the Department of Conservation to the Hon. Tama Potaka, as
reported in The Press on August 3, 2024.
Details of the briefing requested are set out in the table below. It was not a Cabinet briefing.
I have decided to release the briefing, subject to certain information being withheld under
sections 9(2)(a) and 9(2)(g)(i) of the OIA, to protect the privacy of natural persons and to
maintain the effective conduct of public affairs by enabling free and frank expression.
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1)
of the OIA and determined there are no public interests that outweigh the grounds for
withholding.
Item Date
Document description
Decision
01
2 May 2024 24-B-0117: Briefing: Waiau-Toa | Molesworth trail
Released in part.
2. Any subsequent briefings to the Hon. Tama Potaka (as Conservation Minister) regarding the
proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-toa/Clarence River.
No further briefings have been provided to the Minister of Conservation (Minister) regarding
this matter, thus this part of your request is refused under section 18(e) of OIA, as this
information does not exist.
3. Outline of any Department of Conservation expenditures specifically related to the development
of the proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-toa/ Clarence River (between
October 13, 2023, and October 10, 2025).
4. Update on progress related to the proposed Great Walk between Molesworth and Waiau-
toa/Clarence River since the report in The Press on August 3, 2024
In accordance with the Minister’s decision, following provision of the briefing (detailed in the
table above), we have not progressed this matter any further. As well, there is not any
expenditure recorded in our financial system specific to this matter. Consequently, these
two parts of your request are also refused under section 18(e) of OIA, as this information
does not exist.
5. Summary of the alternative tracks in the area mentioned, as reported in The Press on August 3,
2024, e.g., start and end points, length, huts, and number of overnight stops.
The briefing (detailed in the table above) provides a very high-level summary of the range
of tracks in the area and only specifically refers to the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.
The area referenced in the briefing is a generally broad area that includes “Molesworth
Recreation Reserve” (through which the proposed Great Walk would pass). To give you an
overview of the tracks and facilities in this area, please refer to the screen shot below from
the Department’s website.
Name
Start
Finish
Length
Huts
Overnight stops
Kaikoura
Various -
Various -
Between 200 m -
None.
None.
Peninsula
Kaikoura
Kaikoura
11.7 km one way.
Walkway.
Peninsula.
Peninsula.
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I have also set out above (in table format) the summary information requested, but only for
the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.
The following link from the Department’s website to the
Molesworth Recreation Reserve |
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-
go/marlborough/places/molesworth-reserve/ wil enable you to “zoom out” on the map and
search and peruse the wide range of tracks and facilities available in the area referenced.
6. Outline of Department of Conservation expenditures specifically related to the development
of the aforementioned alternative tracks (between October 13, 2023, and October 10,
2025).
Between October 2023 and October 2025, the Department spent approximately $113,000
as part of the International Visitor Levy allocation to improve the Short Walks and Day
Hikes in the northern Canterbury region.
I note that our records are not broken down to such a granular level as to be specific to
work connected to each element of each of the tracks improved. Consequently, a more
detailed cost breakdown is not provided under section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information
does not exist.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decisions by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached documents may
be published on the Department’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Martin Rodd
Director, Regional Operations - Northern South Island
Department of Conservation |
Te Papa Atawhai
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