Recreation

Two non-traditional sports - hobby horsing and pickleball - have gained popularity in recent years and Kiwis are joining in the fun.

A North Island ski field is opting for a soft launch this weekend, while snow guns are blazing down south.

A Taupō family of six has walked the length of the country along the Te Araroa trail, homeschooling all the way, having never done an overnight hike before.

"Getting out of house and seeing what's out and about in the wild ... it's a bonus if you get a duck or two," says 10-year-old George Slavin.

Timber barriers are appearing along Napier's Marine Parade, Napier, to keep vehicles off the beach.

The 623-strong yoga session launched the NatureDome celebration, part of the Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature.

After receiving many complaints, freedom camping is proposed to be banned at three Nelson sites, but the problems won't go away without enforcement, stakeholders say.

Hunters will be soon able to access longer permits and receive automatic reminders a fortnight before they expire.

Patrick Cooper may be on a playground, but he is not fooling around with his goal to break the record for the longest time swinging on a swing.

More than 5000 people are expected to descend on Northland's Ōtiria Marae as one of the region's biggest iwi celebrates its culture, kai and unique dialect.

The new guidelines focus on improving access to places like beaches, lakes, parks, and trails, with a strong emphasis on making outdoor recreation more inclusive.

Hutt City Council is draining some of its pools previously associated with cryptosporidiosis after a spate of gastric illness across the Greater Wellington region.

The government wants to streamline regulations, but marine advocates worry the changes would make fishing less transparent and expedite destruction of the ocean.