Off-limits trust set to close down for good

Off-limits trust, the people behind epic trail rides, 4WD adventures, and guided trail rides in the Waiouru army training grounds are officially closing down.

Following the terror attacks in Christchurch in March 2019, Offlimits canceled their Tussock Buster trail ride event due to access to the army training grounds being tightened up. They were forced to cancel again in 2020 when the global pandemic kicked off, and without the income from these massive events, the board was forced to put the trust into hibernation.

Now, 3 years later, after not being able to run any events, and none being able to be organized for the foreseeable future, they have made the tough call to wrap up the trust.

In a release, they said: "It is with great sadness that we must say farewell to all those who have been loyal supporters of the Offlimits Trust over the years.
We are yet another casualty of Covid-19. We cannot sustain the costs of staying in limbo and not being able to raise funds via the sort of events we have historically undertaken.
The trust has sat dormant for the last few years as a result of Covid-19 plus prior to that, the Christchurch mosque attacks and the closure of Waiouru due to increased security levels.
It is highly unlikely the trust can gain access back into Waiouru in the next few years as the utilisation of the training area by the NZ Army will result in no zones being available for non-military activities.
We thank our wonderful team of helpers and all those who have attended the events we have run at Waiouru. Your support has been greatly appreciated and without it, we would not have been able to raise the money we have over the years to assist members of the New Zealand Defence Force.
We wish you all the best for the future. Keep enjoying our wonderful outdoors and do what you can to rebuild New Zealand in these trying times.
Kia Kaha
The Offlimits Trust team"

This is not only a blow to the people they trust supported, but to trail riders all over the north island.
Tussock Buster was a staple on the calendar of many as the land it was run on is under lock and key 24/7 by the NZ Army, and seldom seen by civilians. The other big trail riding event in the area, Desert Storm hasn't been run since 2017, so this leaves North island dirt riders with few options in the way of big weekend events.

Thank you Offlimits for the work, time, and effort you put into running events, and we hope in the future there may be some way to bring back an event like Tussock Buster.