Main content
Creating New Zealand's national walking trail
In 2011, Geoff Chapple created a 3,000 km long walking trail in New Zealand. It was called Te Araroa.
In 2011 a 3,000 km long walking trail was opened in New Zealand.
Geoff Chapple had spent years lobbying for the creation of Te Araroa. He’d written articles in newspapers and tested out routes in the country's rugged landscape.
The process of exploring where it could go sometimes put him in danger as he tells Alex Collins.
(Photo: Geoff wading in the Waipapa River in the far north of New Zealand while on the Te Araroa trail. Credit: Amos Chapple)
Last on
Fri 19 May 202302:50GMT
BBC World Service
Broadcasts
- Thu 18 May 202307:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 18 May 202311:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 18 May 202317:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Thu 18 May 202321:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 19 May 202302:50GMTBBC World Service
Featured in...
![]()
Health and wellbeing—Witness History
From fitness to friendship - ideas that changed the way we treat our bodies and minds
![]()
Environmental history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes below
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
