NZEAN New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network

27/09/2026

🐴 HELP NZEAN BECOME AN OUTDOOR ACCESS CHAMPION! 🐴

The work being done by New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network (NZEAN) deserves to be recognised and we’d love your help! 🇳🇿🐎

Over the past few years, equestrian advocacy has helped achieve some important wins, including:

🐴 Protecting and opening riding access in communities around Aotearoa.

🛤️ Getting horses recognised in shared-pathway and trail planning, rather than being automatically excluded.

🤝 Working with councils, agencies and organisations to ensure equestrians are considered when recreational infrastructure is designed.

🌿 Supporting local equestrian advocacy groups fighting to retain existing riding areas and improve access.

🏛️ Taking equestrian access issues to a national level, including advocacy with government agencies and presenting petitions to Parliament.

Some examples of our work on behalf of New Zealand Equestrians;
✅ Feilding, 11 March 2022: NZEAN members took part in the Ride for Our Future, presenting a 6,000-signature petition calling for safer roads, better public access and inclusion of equestrians in infrastructure planning. Riders also met with the Minister of Transport.

✅ Peka Peka to Ōtaki, 2023: NZEAN celebrated the opening of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki shared pathway as a multi-use route being enjoyed by different recreation groups, demonstrating how inclusive pathways can serve whole communities.

✅ Nationwide, May 2024: NZEAN achieved charitable status, strengthening its ability to support riders across New Zealand seeking safer recreational riding spaces.

✅ In October 2024 NZEAN again took the fight for equestrian road safety to Parliament, presenting a petition with almost 9,000 signatures calling for horse riders to be formally recognised as Vulnerable Road Users.

The petition called for an inquiry into road-user behaviour towards horse riders and changes to transport legislation to better protect riders and horses on our roads.

This was another significant step in giving equestrians a national voice on road safety and access. 🐴🇳🇿

✅ Nationwide, 2026: NZEAN developed practical fact sheets on shared pathways and horse manure to help councils and other authorities make informed, evidence-based decisions about accommodating horses on trails.

👉 Nominate here: https://www.herengaanuku.govt.nz/advice/trail-makers/outdoor-access-champion-awards/nomination-form
Email for Nomination form; [email protected]
Phone Number for Nomination form; 021949214

📅 Nominations close: 3pm on Monday 2 November 2026

Need ideas of what to say on your nomination, just copy and paste 😊

"I am nominating NZEAN because it supports and strengthens local Equestrian Advocacy Groups across New Zealand. Through its network, local communities are better able to protect riding access, engage with councils, and achieve positive outcomes for equestrians."

"NZEAN deserves recognition because it helps local volunteers turn concern into action. Its support has helped communities protect access to trails, reserves, beaches, forests, and other public spaces for horse riders."

"NZEAN is a champion for outdoor access because it connects local advocacy groups, shares knowledge and expertise, and ensures horse riders have a voice in decisions affecting public access and recreation."

"Through its network of EAGs, NZEAN has empowered local communities to participate in consultation processes, work collaboratively with decision-makers, and improve access opportunities for current and future riders."

EVERY nomination counts. Let's recognise the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep New Zealand accessible for horse riders. So please sign and share, share share!

Thank you

The Outdoor Access Champion awards recognise people and organisations who have made significant and lasting contributions to public access to the outdoors in NZ

25/09/2026

🐴 Wairarapa — now is the time to have your say!

If you want to see equestrians included, speak up and ask for it. Ask for equine inclusion, horse-friendly gates, entrances and access points, facilities that work for both riders and the wider community.

If we don’t ask, we don’t get. Make sure your voice is heard!

HAVE YOUR SAY! Help shape the future of sport and recreation spaces across the Wairarapa. Tell us how you use local facilities, parks, tracks, trails, waterways and other places for sport, active recreation and play and what could make them better 🌳🏑🛝

Head to this link to complete the short community survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TS2G3TD

Masterton District Council
Carterton District Council
South Wairarapa District Council
Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union
Hockey Wairarapa (Official)
Wairarapa Cricket
Wairarapa Tennis
Netball Wairarapa

23/09/2026

NZEAN are proud to be supporting Mahurangi Equestrian Advocacy Group and other around the country 😊❤️

21/09/2026

Woohoo more riding 😊😊😊

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AfF9rmB8y/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Daylight Saving starts this coming weekend. These days you don't have to do anything as pretty much everything adjusts automatically except for the oven, or the VCR...

Clocks will go forward one hour at 2:00 AM this coming Sunday. The image on this post has no relevance. But it's pretty cool.

21/09/2026

🐴 NZEAN NEWSLETTER NO. 3 – AUTUMN 2026 IS HERE! 🍂

There has been plenty happening in the equestrian advocacy space, and our latest NZEAN newsletter is a chance to catch up on the work taking place around Aotearoa New Zealand.

NZEAN exists to help ensure recreational horse riders are recognised, represented and included when decisions are being made about our roads, trails, pathways and public spaces. Our goal is simple: to protect and improve safe equestrian access for today’s riders and future generations.

Our Newsletter No. 3 brings together updates from NZEAN and the wider equestrian advocacy community, highlighting why having a strong, united national voice is so important.

📖 Have a read, share it with your horse-riding friends and help us spread the word.

But please don’t just read about the work being done — become part of it.

🐴 Join NZEAN and add your voice to ours.
🐴 Get involved with or establish an Equestrian Advocacy Group in your area.
🐴 Share local access and safety issues with us.
🐴 Encourage other equestrians to get involved.

The more equestrians who stand together, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

One rider can raise an issue. A united equestrian community can help create change.

👉 Read NZEAN Newsletter No. 3 – Autumn 2026 and find out more about NZEAN at our website.

https://www.nzean.org/about-1-1

17/09/2026

🐴 EQUESTRIANS – IT’S TIME TO CREATE A STRONGER VOICE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Would you like an Equestrian Advocacy Group (EAG) in your area?

Or are you already part of a local riding club, equestrian group or community that could add equestrian advocacy to what you already do?

NZEAN wants to hear from you.

The New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network grew from local riders recognising that equestrians were repeatedly being overlooked in council planning, transport projects, recreational access and shared-use infrastructure.

It started with local advocacy groups in Kāpiti and Horowhenua. Those groups realised something important:

👉 We are stronger when we work together.

That became the foundation of NZEAN – local advocacy supported by a national network.

And we are seeing what can happen when equestrians have an organised voice.

Recently, NZEAN and local Equestrian Advocacy Groups have been involved in:

🐴 Supporting Palmerston North riders to have a gate unlocked and improve equestrian-friendly access to Kahuterawa Reserve.

🐴 Providing information to local councillors in Christchurch about the importance of considering equestrians in a proposed rail trail/cycleway.

🐴 Continuing to challenge NZTA's decision to exclude equestrians from the proposed City to Sea Rail Trail in Manawatū.

These issues are happening throughout New Zealand – loss of traditional riding access, exclusion from shared pathways and trails, road safety concerns and equestrians simply not being considered when new infrastructure is planned.

We cannot expect change if equestrians are not represented at the table.

That is why we need more local Equestrian Advocacy Groups across Aotearoa.

You don't need to reinvent the wheel. An EAG can work locally while being supported by the experience, knowledge, resources and collective voice of NZEAN.

Already have an equestrian group? You may be able to incorporate advocacy into your existing agenda.

Want to establish an EAG in your town, district or region? We can help you get started.

And most importantly – join NZEAN. The more members and local groups standing together, the stronger our collective voice becomes when speaking to councils, government agencies and infrastructure organisations. https://www.nzean.org/product-page/nzean-membership

🐴 Local voices. National support. One stronger equestrian community.

📧 Email [email protected] to find out how easy it can be to start or become an Equestrian Advocacy Group in your area.

Don’t wait until your local riding access is threatened or lost. Get organised now and help make sure equestrians have a voice.

New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network seeks to unite all New Zealand recreational horse riders and provide support to enable them to find and improve localised riding access. We aim to improve horse riding access in all NZ public spaces and ensure the safety and wellbeing of NZ horse riders and th...

28/08/2026

Equestrians, can you help Manawatu riders?
Any donation, no matter how small will help. Thank you 😊❤️
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ExJ3x7L62/?mibextid=wwXIfr

27/07/2026

The New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network Incorporated (NZEAN) exists to improve the safety, access and wellbeing of horse riders and their horses throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

We advocate for the promotion, protection and development of recreational horse-riding tracks, trails and pathways across New Zealand's public spaces, ensuring they remain accessible for current and future generations.

We believe every person who chooses to ride a horse for recreation should have safe, legal and clearly identifiable places to ride.

Through advocacy, education, collaboration and engagement with central and local government, councils and infrastructure organisations we are working to create a lasting legacy for all equestrians.

We Need You!!

We cannot achieve this alone.

For just $10 per year, you can become a member of NZEAN and help strengthen the voice of equestrians throughout New Zealand.

Together, we are building one united, respected voice to work with central and local government, planning authorities and infrastructure organisations to improve equestrian access and secure the legislative and policy changes needed to protect our future.

Become a member here: https://www.nzean.org/product-page/nzean-membership

Help Us Build the Evidence

One of the greatest challenges we face is the lack of reliable data.

New Zealand currently has no national database of horse-related road incidents. This means there are no official statistics to demonstrate how vulnerable equestrians are when using our roads.

Without evidence, it is extremely difficult to convince central and local government, NZTA and other roading authorities that equestrians deserve the same level of protection as pedestrians and cyclists, including safe access to shared and off-road pathways.

To help change this NZEAN has created a Horse-Related Road Incident Database.

We encourage every rider to record both near misses and actual incidents involving horses on New Zealand roads. Every report contributes to a clearer national picture of the risks equestrians face.

If you have experienced more than one incident, please submit each incident as a separate report. Then share the database with your friends, riding clubs, Pony Clubs, trekking groups, Riding for the Disabled and the wider equestrian community. The more data we collect, the stronger our evidence becomes.

Together, through membership, advocacy and real life evidence, we can create meaningful change, improve safety, protect access and ensure future generations of New Zealanders can continue to enjoy horse riding.

Report a road incident here https://www.nzean.org/vulnerable-road-user

Become a member of NZEAN to get access to more resources and future membership deals. By becoming a member you will also be helping to unite the equestrian community and increase our visibility. With greater numbers comes greater strength. With greater strength comes greater success in retaining cur...

19/07/2026

Fellow equestrians, please help. Please read and feedback. The more the better please 🙏 ❤️😊https://www.facebook.com/share/14mVeADWQxY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Local board plans are open for consultation until this Thursday (23 July 2026). Unfortunately, horses have only been mentioned on multi-use parks page 12 (where applicable) and perhaps not a significant part of the community despite having one of the highest equestrian numbers in the country. Lots of people are moving to the area and we all need our space. From shared trails, parks with pony clubs and public spaces (existing and future).
To read the plan: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/local-board-plans-2026/rodney-local-board-plan-2026,
To read our supporting document:https://1b996413-2175-4fbf-91d2-1225b9d7eecd.filesusr.com/ugd/3c4337_db3158e5800f412cb8e19b3926a472b3.pdf
And to fill in the feedback survey: https://yoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/jfe/form/SV_8JmGtD06pUDaEUm

26/06/2026

🐴 While NZTA continues to exclude equestrians from some shared trail projects, NZEAN Committee member Arthur Yeo explains why horses, cyclists and pedestrians can safely coexist on shared trails.

NOW is the time for a more inclusive approach.

🎥 Watch here:

Arthur Yeo, founding member of the NZ Equestrian Advocacy Network -...