
5 Best winter walks in New Zealand
One of the easier segments of Te Araroa, the Lake Hayes Loop Track is just 5km from picturesque Arrowtown on SH6. Stride out from Lake Hayes Pavilion or North Lake Hayes Picnic area, and on a still day you'll be rewarded with sublime views of snow-capped Coronet Peak reflected in the lake's mirrored surface. Bird watchers will want binoculars, as the 280ha lake is home to a variety of species, including the pūteteke, or Australian crested grebe made famous by John Oliver in the 2023 Bird of the Year – and with rebooted rabbit control, the flora and fauna are flourishing. Mostly on flat terrain, this is a comfortable winter walk, with some boardwalk sections. Cycling is also permitted but because the path narrows in places, please share with care.
Lake Hayes is home to the pūteteke, a rare grebe made famous by a comedy show. Photo / QueenstownNZ
Karangahake Gorge Walkways | Waikato Region
The gorgeous Karangahake Gorge cuts through the Coromandel and Kaimai Ranges, with a choice of short strolls and longer hikes. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty book-ended by the mining towns of Paeroa and Waihī – pull over at the carpark beside Ohinemuri River and cross the impressive swing bridge. Information panels provide details of the walks, including the 2.5km Rail Tunnel Loop. Ninety minutes of easy walking through lush native bush, on this loop you'll see the crown battery stamper, built in 1892 for crushing quartz.
You'll also find a 1100m tunnel, so hooray for phones with torches! Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway is another beauty and at 7km takes about four hours and follows the Ohinemuri River, with gold mining relics dotted along the way. It features three bridges and a cascading waterfall – there's a swimming hole if you fancy a midwinter dip. The 2km return Windows Walk is also divine, with secret tunnels and windows cut through rock that offer perfectly framed views of the awa. It is part of the Hauraki Rail Trail Cycleway, so keep your eyes peeled for bikes.
North Shore Coastal Walk, Long Bay to Devonport | Auckland, 23.5km
Also part of Te Araroa, this 23.5km gem can be walked in its entirety from Long Bay to Devonportif you're feeling especially frisky. Alternatively, break it down into bite-sized sectors. Start at Devonport's ferry building and follow Te Araroa's markers by the foreshore heading towards North Head, before coming to Cheltenham Beach and Narrow Neck. Relish views to Rangitoto from the coastal path, then meander through Milford and Castor Bays. Interpretation panels bring history to life, as do relics from World War II, including tunnels and gun emplacements. Each beach has its own flavour, with Rothesay, Castor or Brown's ideal for lunch, then before you know it, you'll arrive at Long Bay Regional Park. Some sections are tide-dependent, with alternative road routes, but it's well signposted, and if you do the whole thing end to end, it takes about seven hours.
Tokatoka Scenic Reserve Track | Northland, 0.5km
An impressive landmark 17km south of Dargaville, Tokatoka looms beside the curving Wairoa River. A short walk that offers sweeping 360-degree views from the 180m summit, it's a steep ascent, so take time to catch your breath at the top and gaze out to the river, the distant Kaipara Harbour and the far-off ranges. It was once a volcanic plug, and it's awe-inspiring to stand on the remnants of an ancient eruption, on top of the world, looking down on creation, to quote Karen Carpenter. It has well-formed tracks and steps cut into rock – be cautious after rain, and if you're on a roadie, do check out Trounson's Kauri Park 55km to the north, as it's an unsung wonder for lovers of ancient trees.

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1News
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"I just bought a plane ticket. At the airport, I gave them my passport and said I was moving to Australia. They said 'Welcome, good luck' — that's it. The next day, I applied for a tax number and started working. It was that easy." His case was not unique. In 2024 alone, nearly 30,000 New Zealanders moved to Australia — the highest number in more than a decade. Since July 2023, New Zealand citizens on a Special Category Visa (SCV) had been able to apply directly for Australian citizenship after four years of residence, without first needing to become permanent residents. ADVERTISEMENT Australia did not cap the number of SCVs issued, and nearly every New Zealand citizen was eligible for one on arrival. While Siqueira believed most migrants came to New Zealand intending to settle, he agreed some planned to move on. "It happens, but not as much as people might think. I know a few who had that plan from day one, go to New Zealand, then move to Australia once they get the passport. 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But we're a small country with a smaller economy, and we can't compete on everything. "What we can offer is a good lifestyle, a welcoming environment, and a strong sense of community, things that also matter to many migrants." Immigration rules were an important factor, he said. "Many barriers to skilled employment in New Zealand come from our own professional associations, like medical or engineering boards. "If we're not letting these skilled people work, we shouldn't be inviting them in the first place. ADVERTISEMENT "And once someone has residency, they have the same rights as anyone else. If they don't want to stay in the job they came for, or if they want to move to Australia, they have every right to do so. Bedford, who had been working on migration issues since the 1960s, said it's too difficult to tell if more immigrants are using this country as a stepping stone across the Tasman. He said the real challenge was making New Zealand a place people want to stay. 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RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Nearly half of Kiwis applying for Australian citizenship born elsewhere
Max Siqueira (second from right), during his New Zealand citizenship ceremony - he has now moved to Australia. Photo: Neil Macbeth / SUPPLIED Nearly half of the New Zealanders applying for Australian citizenship weren't born here, according to data from the Australian government. Between July 2023 and June 2025, more than 92,000 New Zealand citizens applied for Australian citizenship, its Department of Home Affairs said. The figures raised questions about whether New Zealand had become a launch pad for migrants aiming to settle in Australia . When Max Siqueira moved from Brazil to New Zealand in 2016, he had no firm plans. He arrived on a visitor visa, but after landing a job, he stayed long enough to gain permanent residency and eventually became a New Zealand citizen last year. Soon after, his family went on holiday to Australia - they liked it so much they decided to move there and now live on the Gold Coast. Australia's Gold Coast. (File photo) Photo: 123rf "It's really easy once you get the New Zealand passport," Siqueira said. "I just bought a plane ticket. At the airport, I gave them my passport and said I was moving to Australia. They said 'Welcome, good luck' - that's it. The next day, I applied for a tax number and started working. It was that easy." His case was not unique. In 2024 alone, nearly 30,000 New Zealanders moved to Australia - the highest number in more than a decade . Since July 2023, New Zealand citizens on a Special Category Visa (SCV) had been able to apply directly for Australian citizenship after four years of residence, without first needing to become permanent residents. Australia did not cap the number of SCVs issued, and nearly every New Zealand citizen was eligible for one upon arrival. While Siqueira believed most migrants came to New Zealand intending to settle, he agreed some planned to move on. "It happens, but not as much as people might think. 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Emeritus Professor Richard Bedford, a population geographer, said while New Zealand had a net loss of citizens to Australia, it had also a considerable net gain of citizens from other countries during the same period. "There's sometimes an assumption all the people going to Australia are highly skilled, and those coming here are not, but that's incorrect", he said. "We bring in many highly skilled migrants, and it does help balance the overall flow." But retaining that talent was a real challenge, he said. "We need to take very seriously the factors that attract skilled migrants. It's not always about money, but money is a big one. "We must ensure that highly skilled migrants we bring in get good jobs and are well paid. But we're a small country with a smaller economy, and we can't compete on everything. "What we can offer is a good lifestyle, a welcoming environment, and a strong sense of community, things that also matter to many migrants." Immigration rules were an important factor, he said. "Many barriers to skilled employment in New Zealand come from our own professional associations, like medical or engineering boards. "If we're not letting these skilled people work, we shouldn't be inviting them in the first place. "And once someone has residency, they have the same rights as anyone else. If they don't want to stay in the job they came for, or if they want to move to Australia, they have every right to do so. Bedford, who had been working on migration issues since the 1960s, said it's too difficult to tell if more immigrants are using this country as a stepping stone across the Tasman. He said the real challenge was making New Zealand a place people want to stay. "Not just with good pay, but with access to housing, a welcoming culture, and opportunities. If we want migrants to commit to staying, we have to make it worth their while beyond just the job offer." Emeritus Professor Jacques Poot, a population economist at the University of Waikato, said New Zealand and Australia had long functioned as two closely linked labour markets, and New Zealand had typically come out on the losing side. "Australia's economy is about five times bigger, and wages tend to be higher due to slightly greater productivity." Poot said it was unfair to assume migrants who left had always intended to do so. "People migrate for all kinds of reasons. Some move on, some return home, and others stay. There's a lot of churn in modern labour markets. Migration today is often temporary." Still, he said New Zealand should improve its ability to retain people who wanted to settle. "We should revisit our pathways to residency. We need to make sure people who want to settle here have every opportunity to do so." He also pointed to New Zealand's wage gap as a long-standing push factor. "Australia offers higher wages, and that's tied to their larger economy and more populous cities. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane generate what we call 'agglomeration advantages', with more productivity, more opportunities, better pay." Even so, he said the narrative of a mass exodus from New Zealand was overstated. "If you look at the numbers in proportion to our total population, the real exodus happened in the late 1970s, when we only had 3 million people. Now we have over 5 million. So while the numbers may look big, they're not records in relative terms. "One of the things that struck me in 1979 was the big headline in two papers in Wellington: 'Last one to turn off the light.' Because they were really amazed about the out migration from New Zealand. "Well, since then, we're still having the lights on in New Zealand, so I wouldn't worry too much about it." 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Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Australia Beats New Zealand To Win The Trans-Tasman Best Tasting Tap Water Title
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