The Call of the Wild Isn’t being heard Enough

You’d think that, given I own a company that produces some of the world’s best outdoor equipment, I’d have a business motivation to get people into the outdoors. In fact, like other outdoor equipment company founders, from Bruce Macintyre of Macpac to Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia, our companies were borne from a love of nature, not the other way around. The passion for the outdoors is what drives us, not the pursuit of sales.

Anyway… this weekend, I had the chance to run the Casey Binser circuit in Arthur’s Pass, a Canterbury classic. Despite the great weather, my companions and I saw only a handful of people over the 40-kilometre course. It was beautiful but surprisingly quiet. Arthur’s Pass, with its towering peaks, crystal rivers, and bird song, offers an experience that is both humbling and exhilarating. Yet the solitude also made me wonder—why aren’t more New Zealanders out here enjoying it?

New Zealanders pride themselves on their connection to the outdoors. It’s part of our cultural DNA—our whakapapa. From school camps in native bush with its requisite food poisoning to summers spent at the bach dodging mosquitoes and having family arguments, we’ve long enjoyed a relationship with the land that is as old as our national identity. Yet, as we ran through Arthur’s Pass in near isolation, I had to ask: Are we losing touch?

There was a time when weekends meant getting out into the wild. For many Kiwis, the outdoors was a playground, a source of food, and a way to reset mentally. But now, fewer people seem to be answering the call of the mountains and forests. We may buy gear that evokes outdoor adventures, but actually getting outside? Not so much.

Modern life is busy, and seven-day shopping has made weekends a thing of the past. We’re tied to screens, juggling work and family, leaving little time for the outdoors. Urban convenience has distanced us from the simple joys of being outside. Yet, the absence of people in places like Arthur’s Pass speaks to something deeper—our priorities. We’ve forgotten how nourishing nature can be, both physically and mentally.

Spending time in nature is good for our mental health. Research backs this up, showing that being outdoors reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. A walk through the forest, quiet moments by a river, or the physical challenge of a mountain hike can work wonders for the mind, offering a break from everyday worries.

As I ran along the track, I couldn’t help but worry that experiences like this might become rare. Fewer people venturing into New Zealand’s wild places could lead to diminished appreciation and, ultimately, less motivation to preserve them.

New Zealand has a legacy of environmental stewardship, but that legacy requires engagement to thrive. When we lose touch with the land, we risk losing our motivation to protect it. For the next generation, many of whom are growing up in urban environments with fewer opportunities to immerse themselves in nature, the outdoors may seem more abstract than real—a place they see in brochures or Instagram posts, but rarely in person. These folks are possibly likely to aspire to protect the environment in an utterly abstract (my grumpy old white man friends would suggest virtue-signalling) way, but in a style that lacks any real authenticity or basis.

Reconnecting with nature is the solution. We need to make time to get outside—whether it’s venturing into the bush, climbing a hill, or simply walking along the beach. Introducing our children to nature will help instill a lifelong love for the land. Being outdoors isn’t just a pastime; it’s a form of self-care and an investment in our mental wellbeing.

I realize not everyone can run through Arthur’s Pass or climb a mountain, but extreme adventures aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of nature. A simple stroll in a local park can provide escape and peace. What matters is the act of stepping outside and engaging with the natural world.

As I reflect on that solitary run, I’m reminded of our shared responsibility—not just to protect our environment, but to experience it. New Zealand’s wild places are treasures, but they’re also fragile. If we don’t visit, understand, and love them, we may find them irreversibly altered one day.

So, here’s my call to action: get outside. Make time for it. Feel the wind on your face, the earth beneath your feet, and the stillness that only nature can offer. Do it not just for the land, but for yourself. Our mental and physical health are intertwined with the health of the natural world.

And if, on your next adventure, you find yourself alone on the trail, remember that solitude in nature holds a special kind of magic—one worth experiencing and sharing.