New access maps help anglers, hunters find Spot X

New access maps help anglers, hunters find Spot X

Working with the Walking Access Commission, Fish & Game NZ has revamped the maps on its website to provide its angling and hunting licence holders with invaluable access information.

The Commission’s highly regarded Walking Access Mapping System (WAMS), which provides layers of public access details, has been integrated into the maps on all 12 regional Fish & Game homepages (see attached image).

The maps have colour-coded keys identifying not only formed and unformed (paper) legal roads, but also the opportunities for anglers and hunters to access conservation land, public reserves, Crown land and other areas.

Fish & Game communications manager Hamish Carnachan says anglers and hunters have latched onto the WAMS system because of the invaluable information it provides, so it was a logical step to incorporate the platform into the Fish & Game website which has become the 'on-stop shop' for freshwater anglers and game bird hunters.

“WAMS has had a profound impact on opening up access opportunities to public places because it clearly shows where you’re legally allowed to go, thereby removing any doubt or contention with landowners.

“Embedding the WAMS system into our own website was basically our answer to the question, ‘How do I get to Spot X to fish?’

“And now that we’ve mobilised our website for smartphone and tablet users, they can easily check whether they have legal right of access to a particular fishing or hunting ground when they’re out and about, provided they can get a network connection.”

Mr Carnachan says the partnership with the Commission has been incredibly beneficial and thanks the staff for their professionalism and commitment to this project.

“They’ve assisted us with one of our statutory functions – enhancing and facilitating access to freshwater fishing and game bird hunting opportunities.

“We’re continuing to work with the Commission as we load Fish & Game angler and hunter access points into the WAMS system, which will be displayed on our website maps.”

Walking Access Commission chief executive Mark Neeson says Fish & Game was one of the first organisations to embed maps on their website using the public access mapping data.

"The new hunting and fishing maps on Fish & Game's website are a valuable tool for hunters and anglers looking for new opportunities to access the outdoors. We released our public access data publicly for precisely this kind of purpose – and we welcome other organisations who want to make use of it."

WAMS shows land over which the public has walking access. WAMS is an online system using geographic information system (GIS) technology to provide views of the legal boundaries, which can be viewed against either topographical maps or aerial/satellite photographs.

ends

© Scoop Media