Warren Murdoch
Taupō Office
37 Motutaiko Street
[FYI request #34673 email]
PO Box 528
Taupō, 3351
30 June 2026
Ref: OIAD-6230
Tēnā koe Warren,
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation (DOC), received on 10 May 2026, in
which you asked for:
”Could you please provide me with all correspondence that relates to the building of this
trail specially the second part of the trail”
We have considered your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA).
On 13 May 2026 you refined your request to relate to Phase 2 of the trail and include:
•
emails concerning the building of the trail,
•
emails and other correspondence outlining what needs to happen before work can
commence on building the trail,
•
emails and other correspondence which outlines why work has not commenced on the
building of the trail
•
emails and other correspondence explaining when work wil commence on the trail.
On 11 June 2026 we extended the timeframe to respond to your request to 30 June 2026 due to
the consultation necessary to fulfil your request.
Te Ara Mangawhero Trail Phase 2 is progressing through its final pre-construction phase. Key
approvals have primarily been secured, and funding arrangements are in place, with significant
portions of the trail ready to proceed. Work is currently focused on completing the remaining
contractual, procurement, and permitting requirements. Construction wil commence once these
final steps have been concluded, in accordance with the approved construction timeframe for
the project.
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed in the attached schedule,
subject to information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the OIA, as
applicable:
• personal information, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons,
including deceased people,
• information provided in confidence, under section 9(2)(ba)(i) – to protect information
where release would prejudice the ongoing supply of similar information.
• confidential information, under section 9(2)(ba)(i ) – to protect information where
release would otherwise harm the public interest.
• free and frank expression under section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of
public affairs,
• confidential information, under section 9(2)(j) – to enable the Crown to negotiate
without disadvantage or prejudice.
• to prevent the disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper
advantage under section 9(2)(k)
Please note some of the information has also been redacted as it was out of scope of your
request.
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.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision 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 DOC’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Damian Coutts
Regional Director - Central North Island
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
2
Document schedule
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1. 28 October
Letter: DC144 - Harridge - Te Ara Mangawhero
Released in part.
2025
Cycle Trail Phase 2 - Oct 2025
2. 02 November Email: RE_ DRAFT Mountains to Sea Funding
Released in part.
2025
Notification Letter - Nov 2025 _IN-
CONFIDENCE_
3. 02 November Email: Te Ara Mangawhero
CHECK RE
2025
PAUL’S NAME
4. 17 November Email: FW_ Works approval for Phase 2 Te Ara Released in part.
2025
Mangawhero - track construction materials
5. 17 November Email: RE Works approval for Phase 2 TAM
Released in part.
2025
6. 18 November Email: FW_ Bike Track Standards
Released in part.
2025
7. 19 November Email: FW_ Ruapehu Cycle trails M2C - IVL $$
Released in part.
2025
8. 19 November Email: RE_ Procurement update for Ruapehu
Released in part.
2025
Cycle trails M2C
9. 19 November Email: Re_ Ruapehu Cycle trails M2C - IVL $$
Released in part.
2025
10. 20 November Email: FW_ Ruapehu Cycle trails M2C - IVL $$
Released in part.
2025
11. 24 November Email: RE TAM catch-up DOC Tongariro
Released in part.
2025
12. 24 November Email: RE TAM catch-up DOC Tongariro
Released in part.
2025
13. 25 November Email: RE Ruapehu Cycle trails M2C - IVL $$
Released in part.
2025
14. 25 November Email: Re_ DOC Technical advice on TAM
Released in part.
2025
phase 2
15. 26 November Email: 118578-OTH Nga Waihua o Paerangi
Released in part.
2025
Trust and 119432-AIR Nga Waihua o Paerangi
Trust. Post Decision Actions.
16. 26 November Email: Ruapehu Cycle trails M2C - IVL $ -
Released in part.
2025
sensitive
17. 27 November Email: FW_ IVL Fortnightly report to DPMC - for Released in part.
2025
your input by Mon 1st Dec COP (1)
18. 27 November Email: Re_ Works approval for Phase 2 Te Ara
Released in part.
2025
Mangawhero - track construction materials
19. 27 November Email: TAM Phase 2
Released in part.
2025
3
20. 08 December Email: Re 118578-OTH concession document
Released in part.
2025
21. 09 December Email: RE Post decision actions query 118578-
Released in part.
2025
OTH
22. 10 December Email: RE_ Procurement Support for the Cyle
Released in part.
2025
Trail funding
23. 10 December Email: TAM Phase 2 Project Structure
Released in part.
2025
24. 08 January
Email: RE IVL project - Tongariro Cycleway -
Released in part.
2026
monthly reporting to Minister
25. 20 January
Email: FW_ Concession application approval
Released in part.
2026
118578-OTH
26. 20 January
Email: Fw_ TAM Phase 2 Project Structure
Released in part.
2026
27. 20 January
Email: RE Concession application approval
Released in part.
2026
118578-OTH - acknowledgement
28. 21 January
Email: RE_ TAM Works Approval
Released in part.
2026
29. 21 January
Email: Fw_ 119432-AIR aircraft permit te ara
Released in part.
2026
mangawhero signed_
30. 28 January
Email: 20260128 - Te Ara Mangawhero 118578-
Released in part.
2026
OTH WAA condition
31. 29 January
Email: Re_ Te Ara Mangawhero Phase 2 -
Released in part.
2026
118578-OTH
32. 17 February
Email: RE_ Te Ara Mangawhero maintenance
Released in part.
2026
_IN-CONFIDENCE - RELEASE EXTERNAL
33. 22 February
Email: RE_ TAM Phase 2 Project Structure
Released in part.
2026
34. 09 March
Email: Re_ Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail
Released in part.
2026
35. 10 March
Email: FW_ Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail
Released in part.
2026
36. 10 March
Email: RE_ Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail
Released in part.
2026
37. 11 March
Email: Re_ Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail
Released in part.
2026
38. 11 March
Email: FW_ Te Ara Mangawhero Cycle Trail
Released in part.
2026
39. 12 March
Email: Fw_ URGENT_ Re_ Te Ara
Released in part.
206
Mangawhero Cycle Trail
40. 16 March
Email: RE_ TAM works approval update
Released in part.
2026
4
41. 18 March
Email: FW_ TAM Catch Up Meeting
Released in part.
2026
42. 18 March
Email: RE TAM Phase 2 Works Approval -
Released in part.
2026
winter works conditions
43. 25 March
Email: FW_ Catching up
Released in part.
2026
44. 27 March
Email: FW_ Meeting Notes
Released in part.
2026
45. 30 March
Email: RE_ Existing TAM and Hungaruru Trail
Released in part.
2026
Monitoring
46. 30 March
Email: RE_ Te Ara Mangawhero
Released in part.
2026
47. 31 March
Email: Te Ara Mangawhero
Released in part.
2026
48. 31 March
Email: Re_ Draft special conditions for Te Ara
Released in part.
2026
Mangawhero Phase 2 works approval
49. 02 April 2026 Email: RE_ Draft special conditions for Te Ara
Released in part.
Mangawhero Phase 2 works approval
50. 02 April 2026 Email: Re_ Works approval conditions - Te Ara
Released in part.
Mangawhero Phase 2 draft
51. 15 April 2026 Email: Fwd_ Resource Consent Decision - APP-
Released in part.
2024204926
52. 15 April 2026 Email: Nga Waihua o Paerangi Trust Wildlife
Released in part.
Permit Application
53. 15 April 2026 Email: RE_ TAM Procurement Plan Review
Released in part.
54. 15 April 2026 Email: RE_ TAM Procurement Plan Review
Released in part.
55. 20 April 2026 Email: FW_ Resource Consent Decision - APP-
Released in part.
2024204926_00
56. 22 April 2026 Email: Re_ For approval_ Te Ara Mangawhero
Released in part.
Phase 2 works approval
57. 23 April 2026 Email: FW_ TAM Procurement Plan Signoff
Released in part.
58. 23 April 2026 Email: RE_ For approval_ Te Ara Mangawhero
Released in part.
Phase 2 works approval
59. 27 April 2026 Email: Te Ara Mangawhero Phase 2 Works
Released in part.
Approval
60. 07 May 2026 Email: Re_ Te Ara Mangawhero cycleway
Released in part.
5
