Trampers to get online maps next year

Walkers and trampers should be able to jump online to view maps and images of New Zealand's public walks fro July next year.

The Walking Access Commission is shopping for a system that will show maps and satellite images or photos of public access areas in New Zealand, as well as boundaries and land tenure information.

Commission business manager Bruce Lynch says while there are many maps available to the public online, not all are easy to read or contain the right information.

"For the average walker they want to know exactly where the walk is, where they can park, that it's going to be safe, and some idea of how long it is."

The database should help reduce disputes between landowners and the public, he says. "Often the public just haven't got the right information."

Andrew Shelly, a member of the Association of Wellington Walkers, says the database is a fantastic idea. People wanting to find out about walks can currently search various council websites "but there is no one place they can go", he says.

The commission expects the database will cost between $200,000 and $500,000 to build and less than $100,000 a year to operate.

The database will also allow for updates of mapping and imagery data, and allow the commission to log issues and record and manage complaints.

The commission was established last year to provide information on public walks, negotiate the use of new walking routes and resolve disputes over land access.

- © Fairfax NZ News