New Zealand has about 56,000 km of Unformed Legal Roads (ULRs) — enough to circle the Earth 1.4 times. These “hidden” or “paper” roads often go unnoticed, but they have the same legal status as any major road, including State Highway 1 (SH1). Many provide vital public access to conservation land and outdoor recreation.

ULRs are official public roads, but are not fully formed or suitable for vehicles. Despite their rough surfaces, people can walk, bike, or ride horses along them. These roads often cross private land, but they remain public, and landowners can’t block access. Gates can only be placed with permission from the relevant territorial authority, must remain unlocked, and need clear signage.

In 2020, FMC launched the Same as SH1 campaign, calling for Unformed Legal Roads to receive the same respect and protection as fully formed roads. We would like to see the management responsibility of the roads shift from local authorities to Herenga ā Nuku the Outdoor Access Commission, which is better placed to safeguard public access. FMC also supports developing some ULRs into marked walking or biking trails, or, where appropriate, for vehicle access. And if any land swaps involving ULRs are proposed, the public must receive equal or better replacement access.

Some Unformed Legal Roads are easy to spot, but others are overgrown or hidden and can blend into the surrounding land. For example, when people say a legal road ‘goes through a paddock,’ it means the road does go through a paddock, running between two separate parcels of land — the road itself isn’t owned by the landowners.

Not all ULRs appear on topographical maps, so the best way to check if you’re on a ULR is to use the Herenga ā Nuku maps. They’ve created an excellent guide explaining what ULRs are and how to find them using their maps.