Herenga a Nuku
WHO THEY ARE
TRACKS & TRAILS MAGAZINE
Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, is the Crown entity responsible for providing leadership on outdoor access in New Zealand. They work to secure and improve public access to the outdoors — including tracks, trails, and open spaces — while fostering respectful relationships between landholders, recreational users, and communities.
WHAT WE DID
Throughout New Zealand there are a wide variety of geographically dispersed groups who share a passion for caretaking walking tracks. Herenga ā Nuku wanted to develop their community network of track and trail caretakers, sharing information and tips in a way that enables this work.
For this project, we worked with Herenga ā Nuku to design Tracks and Trails magazine from the ground up. The focus was on creating a publication that felt approachable and community-driven, while still being clear, well-structured, and visually engaging.
We paid particular attention to how stories and imagery worked together, ensuring that each article was easy to read while still reflecting the energy and dedication of the track caretaking community. Consistent design elements gave the magazine a strong identity, helping it feel like a central hub for this nationwide network.
Our role covered layout design, typography, and image use — balancing practical information with human stories to ensure the magazine could act as both a resource and an enjoyable read. By keeping the design clean and accessible, the magazine highlights the people behind the tracks and gives readers a sense of connection to the wider outdoor network.
The resulting Tracks and Trails magazine creates a platform for an open and welcoming community, through the use of personal articles about those who create positive change (both big and small).
This project was done in collaboration with WildLab
