The Mahu Whenua covenants were established in September 2015. The covenants are located on four high country stations: Coronet Peak, Glencoe, Mount Soho and Motatapu which are subject to permanently renewable Crown Pastoral leases held by Soho Property Limited. The sole shareholder of Soho Property Limited is Switzerland based music producer Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange.

Soho Property entered into a partnership with the Trust to ensure the protection of around 53,000 hectares of iconic New Zealand high country. The resulting Open Space Covenants were formally registered on the 19 February 2015 and officially opened by the National Trust’s Patron, His Excellency, Lt Gen the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand on 7 March 2015.

The Mahu Whenua covenants make an outstanding contribution towards protecting one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural and cultural landscapes.

The covenants protect high alpine environments, alpine and montane grasslands, wetlands, riparian zones, forest and shrubland remnants. The landscape is overlain with a rich suite of gold mining archaeological sites which showcase a long mining history spanning from the discovery of gold in the Shotover and Arrow Rivers in 1862 through to the depression era.

Before European settlement, Ngāi Tahu moved around nearly the whole of Te Waipounamu (South Island), hunting and gathering a range of resources. Movements were according to the seasons, following the lifecycles of animals and plants. The high country was a fundamental element of these systematic seasonal food gathering patterns.

Today, a network of tracks and marked routes provide for public access and enjoyment over large parts of the covenants.

The links provide access to maps of walking and biking tracks ranging from short walks to challenging day trips some of which can form part of multi days trips in conjunction with neighbouring public conservation land.

Backcountry tracks may be unformed and lightly marked and in locations with no huts or shelters. Users are urged to follow the link to Backcountry Safety Information before planning their trip.

 

Macetown Rd Permit system to operate from 1 April 2026

The Mahu Whenua 4WD Tracks Advisory Group is taking a phased approach to complete implementation of the managed access system for Macetown Road.  Managed access is necessary to protect the environment, maintain the road and preserve ongoing vehicle access for the public, landowners, emergency services and a range of community groups.

From 1 April individual 4WD vehicles and motorcycles will require an online permit for each trip.  Permit fees are set at $40 per trip.  Fees go to Arrowtown Charitable Trust and can only be used to maintain and manage the Macetown Rd tracks.   Separate permit types are in place to provide access for individual annual pass holders, commercial operators, mining claim permit holders and horse riders.

Signage, a vehicle gate and CCTV camera surveillance systems are in place.  The online permit system will be phased in from 23 March and be fully operational by 1 April. The fee-based permit system will provide users with a gate code to unlock the padlock on the vehicle gate.  Users will be able to go online to get a permit in advance of their trip, or use a QR code on track signage to access the permit system and get a same day permit within minutes.

Residents within the QLDC territory are eligible for an annual pass for $100 allowing multiple trips for the year.  Horse riders will use the permit system to get the padlock code at no charge.

To apply for an annual pass, more information on permit types and answers to frequently asked questions visit the website macetown.nzfwda.org.nz.

Mahu Whenua Management Plan

In July 2020, Soho properties consulted with interested parties, in preparation for a management plan for Mahu Whenua.

The Draft Management Plan aims to:

1. clarify who is responsible for managing key aspects of the Mahu Whenua Covenants (eg. capital expenditure & on-going maintenance)
2. simplify the decision making process for activities which require consents
3. clarify the roles of the various entities involved in the management of access, enhancement of open space values, research, recreational activities and commercial utilisation of the covenanted land

The plan is split into two volumes, available to view below. Volume I outlines the draft Mahu Whenua Management Plan and Volume II provides insight into the open space values and background information.

Mahu Whenua Draft Management Plan Volume I
Mahu Whenua Draft Management Plan Volume II

The plan looks forward 25 years from the date of its approval, however it is anticipated that the plan will be a working document which will be modified and refined as time passes and projects progress, milestones are achieved and different parties become involved.