OPINION: If you mentioned the Te Araroa Trail to New Zealanders a few years ago, it wasn't uncommon to be met with a blank stare.

Countless travel blogs, and major media outlets like National Geographic and CNN, spoke excitedly about the amazing new long walk that stretched the length of our country, but Kiwis seemed to be out of the loop. Dozens, and then hundreds, of international visitors started walking our national trail, but the proportion of New Zealand walkers was relatively low.

Fast forward to now, and the spectacular 3000-kilometre trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff is beginning to embed itself into the Kiwi psyche.

MARK WEATHERALL/SUPPLIED On the Pirongia to Waitomo section of Te Araroa Trail, in Waikato.

This summer the number of people walking the full length of the trail will exceed 1000 for the first time, and hundreds of thousands of people walk individual sections every year.

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About a third of those who walked the full length of our country last summer were New Zealanders, up from one in five the year before. The majority of those walking individual sections of the trail, particularly those that are close to our cities, are New Zealanders.

supplied Mark Weatherall, chief executive of Te Araroa Trust.

A year into my role as chief executive of Te Araroa Trust, I'm now absolutely convinced that we've got something truly unique and worth celebrating. The trail passes through some of our country's most awe-inspiring landscapes and takes in more than 20 towns and cities. Walking its length, or just individual sections, brings connection with fellow New Zealanders, cultural and historic sites, and nature. It's a perfect playground for those who want to take a break from the virtual world while getting fit at the same time.

For people with children, it's an ideal way to introduce them to the wonders of the outdoors.

The trail's economic contribution is also growing. The average through-walker spends between $7000 and $10,000 during their three to five-month journey. The patronage and energy they bring is beneficial for the many small towns and businesses they visit. This includes hostels and campsites that host them, supermarkets and general stores where they stop to get supplies, and cafes and restaurants they graze at before heading back into the wild.

Loic Jaffro From the Mt Richmond Forest Park section of Te Araroa Trail, in the Nelson Lakes region.

The rising number of Kiwis walking the trail and their growing economic contribution is hugely pleasing. Our dream has always been to develop a trail that is treasured and enjoyed by New Zealanders, as well as international visitors.

It would be fantastic if completing the trail at some point in our lives, even if done in sections over many years, became a New Zealand pilgrimage. We would all be fitter, better connected and more in tune with the places and landscapes we call home.

To support this, the trust is working to keep the momentum going and ensure the trail is sustainable. We need to move remaining road sections off-road and seek alternative routes for tracks that are closed, or at risk of closing, due to kauri dieback.

Mark Weatherall Lake Coleridge, in Canterbury, from Te Araroa Trail.

We need to work with the Department of Conservation, councils and the tourism industry to improve infrastructure to cater for the growing number of walkers. And we need to ensure the access we've negotiated remains open for future generations.

There's a long journey ahead of us, but with the support of landholders, businesses, government and everyday Kiwis, I'm confident we'll get there.

* Mark Weatherall is the chief executive of Te Araroa Trust. He has been involved in recreation management for more than two decades, including as the chief executive of Canoe Racing New Zealand and Poverty Bay Rugby, and general manager at Surf Life Saving New Zealand.