It is a free, self-guided digital walking experience on the Tui-Domain Track, from the Te Aroha Domain to the Hamilton Street track. Using your phone as a tour guide, the experience shares natural, cultural and historical stories about the town and mountain.

Using your phone simply scan the QR code on the track, or click this link (designed for mobile), to start the experience. If you want to play it at a later date, you can download the PickPath app onto your phone and look for ‘Get into the Ngahere’. To get the best out of the experience, turn on location services, which will help guide you along the track and show you how far it is to the next stop. It will give you access to stories and information at specific locations along the track while allowing you to explore at your own pace.

The project encourages more people to walk the Tui-Domain Track and help them build a deeper connection with the natural, cultural and historical heritage of Te Aroha maunga/mountain. It also supports placemaking and visitor experiences within the district.

The content was developed by Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust for Ngāti Tumutumu with support from Matamata-Piako District Council (MPDC) and staff from the Department of Conservation (DOC). The stories include cultural, historical and environmental information from these partners.

Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust is a co-governed nonprofit restoring the mauri of the Kaimai Mamaku mountains and its catchments. Ngāti Tumutumu is the iwi of Te Aroha with deep historical and cultural connections to the maunga. This experience ensures that local stories, mātauranga Māori and cultural perspectives are accurately represented and shared with visitors. Having iwi perspectives helps ensure visitors hear stories that have often not been shared through traditional tourism or interpretation channels. The intention is to present a richer and more complete understanding of Te Aroha's history.

The project aligns with Council's Parks and Open Spaces Strategy by encouraging people to use local recreational areas and develop a deeper understanding of Te Aroha's natural, cultural and historical heritage. Through the Pride of Place Community-led Initiatives Grant we were able to provide some support with funding.

The experience itself is free. To access the walk, people can either scan the QR code, click the link or download the PickPath app.

Both. The experience is designed to help locals learn more about their own community while also providing visitors with a unique attraction that encourages them to explore Te Aroha.

PickPath is a New Zealand-owned platform with experience creating location-based digital experiences. It provided a cost-effective way to create a digital experience without building a custom app from scratch.

The app records usage information such as experience opens and completions, which helps measure the success of the project. It does not collect data on users’ movements outside of delivering the location-based experience.

The walk requires a reasonable level of fitness. It is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs, and users should stay on marked walking tracks. Some sections include hills and uneven ground. Dogs must be on lead, and no dogs are allowed on the connected DOC tracks. This track was chosen because it is accessible to a wide range of visitors, contains significant natural and cultural sites, and has connectivity that supports the PickPath experience.

Users are encouraged to stop and listen where appropriate and remain aware of their surroundings. The track is shared with other users, including mountain bikers in some areas, so people should follow signage and stay on designated walking tracks.

The project aims to tell the full story of the maunga. Māori history, language and cultural connections are an important part of Te Aroha's identity. The app includes translations and hints to help users understand te reo Māori used throughout the experience.

Topics include Te Aroha's geothermal history, Ngāti Tumutumu history, native species, conservation projects, pest plant control, kauri protection, significant locations on the maunga, and stories about the development of Te Aroha as a spa town.

The project was led by Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust who received external funding support. It was designed as a relatively low-cost initiative to help promote recreation, tourism, local history, environmental education and community wellbeing, while encouraging greater use of existing public assets.

The initial digital experience is expected to remain live for at least one year. Any future continuation will be considered in discussion with project partners and content owners.