Rain Pants/Kilt for New Zealand

South island is much less of a jungle, perhaps poncho-tarp can be useful? It'll cover most of your legs leaving lower parts that are going to get wet pants or no pants due to plants (many of which are spikey). The poncho can then be converted to tarp for a quick shelter during lunch breaks if needed.

I would recommend rainpants for several reasons: 1 – Te Araroa spends a large portion of the track out of the bush and up high. When the rain comes (which can be quite often, NZ weather is quite changeable, not necessarily extreme) you usually get wind with it. The windchill factor is quite high in these conditions. 2 – Rainpants help protect the legs from matagouri and spandiard grass, although a large number of kiwi trampers would wear polypro longjohns and high gaiters to protect their legs instead of shedding rainpants. 3 – Can save you from been tormented by sandflies without the use of DEET