About the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations

The Council was formed to promote the common interests of outdoor recreation participants at the national level. This was because of concern among many outdoor users that, although the outdoors and recreation are very important components of the New Zealand psyche, this has not been reflected by political and official decision making, or by national sports/recreation administrators.

The Council advocates for the common interests of the million or more New Zealanders who fish, shoot, tramp, ski, canoe, climb, walk, mountainbike, botanise, photograph and relax in New Zealand’s great outdoors.

The combined membership of our member bodies is some 18,000 with a wider support base of approximately 200,000 individuals. The latter are represented by CORANZ member groups’ constituent organisations who have pledged support for these objects.

Our Action Programme below is listed under each of the Council’s four Constitution objects -

1. A Strong Outdoor Recreational User Voice   
2. Land and Water Protection and Wise Management
3. Public Ownership and Management       
4. Public Access

These policies were first developed in 1999. Some have now been achieved, and significant progress made or resolutions achieved with others. New policies have been added.