Stone Jug Road access to Whakapapa River

Photo of old sign on Stone Jug Road in 2009 – since removed…

The Whakapapa River is renowned for its large rainbow and brown trout. Both the World Fly Fishing Championships and the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships were held just downstream on the mainstem of the Whanganui River. Its exceptional trout quality and quantity are attributed to pristine, cold water descending from Tongariro National Park, drawing anglers from around the world.

To protect and enhance public access to this highly valued fishery, Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game has pioneered an innovative land-purchase-and-access model through its Anglers’ Access Fund.

Under the scheme, Fish & Game purchases strategically important riverfront properties, secures enduring public access through easements and esplanade strips on the title, and then on-sells the property. The funds are recycled into future access projects.

Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game chief executive David Klee says the fund is designed to secure access forever without relying on licence fee income.

“None of the money we’ve used to purchase this property has come from licence holders – it’s all independently sourced from external income such as donations and bequests,” Klee said. “We’re working closely with councils, mana whenua and the Outdoor Access Commission to get enduring access locked in.”

To support this project, the Outdoor Access Commission granted $8800 to the Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Council for survey work to legalise the existing informal access from Stone Jug Road to and along the Whakapapa River.

The Stone Jug Road property provides access to around three kilometres of the Whakapapa River.

“We’ve now put easements on and established an esplanade strip along the river,” Klee said. “ We plan to on-sell the property and put the money straight back into the access fund so we can move on to the next project.”

Since Fish & Game acquired the property, informal public access has already transformed use of this section of river, with anglers and other recreationists regularly visiting an area that previously saw little or no public use.

Klee says the initiative responds to a growing nationwide issue.

“Access is increasingly being lost through property sales, forestry changes, overseas investment and confusion around health and safety,” he said. “When properties change hands, informal arrangements often disappear. Securing legal access is one way to make sure it lasts.”

Importantly, the access benefits far more than anglers.

“When we open this up, it’s for the whole community,” Klee said. “Whether that’s swimming, rafting, walking, or gathering kai – this is a shared community space.”

Fish & Game is working with Ngāti Hāua in recognition that this stretch of the Whakapapa River sits within a wāhi tapu area and historic battle site. Signage and legal instruments will acknowledge and protect the cultural significance of the area alongside public access.

Klee says the model could be expanded across New Zealand.

“The ideal outcome is to see this grow beyond one region,” he said. “If organisations that value access come together and build a large-scale fund, we could help secure access to premier rivers, lakes and other high-value places all over the country.”

Outdoor Access Commission chief executive Dan Wildy has welcomed the outcome.

“This project shows what’s possible when organisations work together with a clear focus on enduring public access,” Wildy said. “Fish & Game’s approach at Stone Jug Road delivers certainty for landowners and permanent access for the public – it’s an excellent model. We’d like to see this kind of solution applied in other regions where access is vulnerable.”

Fish & Game’s Anglers’ Access Fund is supported by donations, including from individual anglers, and clubs. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game at aucklandwaikato@fishandgame.org.nz.