Reopening Banks Peninsula: Why Community Support Matters Now More Than Ever

Apr 15
4 min read

February 2026 Storm

Severe weather has affected communities across Aotearoa this year, but some have been hit far harder than others. The February storm was a stark reminder of how sudden and devastating these events can be, causing widespread damage across the motu.

Close to home, torrential rain triggered flash flooding and landslides across Banks Peninsula and parts of Christchurch City. In just 48 hours, the Peninsula received nearly six times its average monthly rainfall.

Two months on, the fallout is still evident. Damage to waterways, fencing and trapping networks continues to mar and disrupt the region, but for many locals, the most immediate and tangible impact is the loss of access to the walking and biking trails they know and love. As part of this community, we recognise the scale of this loss and the efforts of local organisations working tirelessly to bring these tracks back to safe use.

We have launched the February 2026 Storm Damage Repair Fund to support this vital mahi, which you can donate to here.

Affected Trails

Slips and rain damage have forced the closure of key sections of the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust and Te Ahu Pātiki track networks, including Faulkner and Monument South, due to safety concerns. This has significantly limited public access across the Peninsula.

Walkers and runners can no longer reach Packhorse Hut or Gebbies Pass from Orton Bradley Park, while routes to Te Ara Pātaka and Rod Donald Hut are also cut off from the upper Kaituna Valley. Tracks at Living Springs, Summit Road Society reserves and Tūpari Reserve have also been affected.

The track closures are an undeniable blow for the local community, whose connection to the Peninsula spans recreation and exercise, fond family memories, adventure and escape, and in some cases, livelihood.

Environmental Cost

While the loss of public access is deeply felt, the ecological scars also run deep. Rod Donald Trust Manager Shelley Washington confirmed that the Wainui, Wairewa and Kaituna catchments, along with the upper end of Whakaraupō, bore the brunt of the downpour. Landowners have reported an unprecedented number of slips this season, with flood levels not seen previously.

Across the whenua, streams and slopes have been reshaped by the sheer volume and force of the water: in some areas, waterways have been gouged out and widened, while surrounding land has been stripped back to volcanic bedrock. Natural regeneration in these areas will take time.

At Te Ahu Pātiki, the storm caused significant damage, with slips large enough to be visible from Lyttelton initially prompting the closure of all tracks for repairs and assessment. Recovery is now well underway, with all tracks except Faulkner reopened – if very muddy.

While the essential mahi to restore access has largely been achieved, these unplanned expenses place considerable pressure on community trust and volunteer resources, making additional support critical to maintaining the network and preparing for future weather events.

The storm has also disrupted the region's conservation infrastructure: trap networks only recently re-routed and established have been damaged, copping at least $2,000 in losses. In one instance, a trap was completely destroyed, taking with it a mature mataī tree. Access for pest control and biodiversity workers has also been affected, and without timely intervention, further delays could have serious consequences for native wildlife.

Our New Normal

The biggest challenge for recovery is that this wasn’t a one-off event. The region has now experienced three major rainstorms in the last ten months, and local reserves have undergone multiple rounds of track and fencing repairs in that period.

Te Ahu Pātiki Kaituitui Sarah Anderson said that their annual storm budget allocation was already spent fixing damage caused by heavy rainfall in October last year, leaving very limited capacity to absorb further damage. “Unless we can source additional funds via grants, sponsorship and donations, then we will be deferring other planned mahi to fund this latest round of damage.”

The Risks of Inaction

Deferring work such as gorse control, pest management, and routine track maintenance can have compounding effects on biodiversity and the long-term hauora of the region. Without community support, recovery efforts will slow or stall, delaying the reopening of tracks and limiting public access for the foreseeable future.

Yet despite the chaos, the response from the community has been swift and generous. As Sarah notes, the crisis has “shone a spotlight on the quality of our local contractors and supporters, who all, without fail, have jumped into action to support the clean-up and repair efforts.”

“We are part of a wider movement to protect, restore and enhance the unique landscape of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula. We value and respect all partnerships and the willingness of these supportive organisations to help in times of crisis.”

Be part of the solution

Restoring the damaged track network and strengthening it against future weather events is estimated to cost more than $500,000. Kura Tāwhiti Foundation is working alongside the Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust and local partners to raise $200,000 toward this effort by 30 June 2026.

Community support will play a primary role in accelerating repairs, restoring access, and ensuring that critical conservation work can continue.