Outdoor Code

Toitū te whenua translates as ‘leave no trace’ - an appropriate goal for any naturalist.

There are many variations on an outdoor code, but the general principle is that you should aim to make your impact on the sites you visit as small as you can. Try to minimise the effect you have on the environments you visit, and on the things that live there (including other people).

When out and about in nature we are usually just visiting, but for the creatures we come to see, it is their home. For animals, try to disturb them as little as possible, and especially at sensitive times - such as animals feeding or with young.

If you pick something up to look at, put it back in the same place afterwards. If it wasn’t there already then don’t bring it in (eg rubbish, pest species), and if it was there then don’t take it away (eg plants, animals, fungi, historical artefacts). Don’t forget that even ‘dead stuff’ is a home and/or food to other creatures.

Also, be aware that some surfaces are more fragile than others - for instance a patch of moss is usually more easily damaged than a patch of grass.

For more suggestions, see Leave no trace.