Welcome to our newest executive member, Alan Grant. Alan has been tramping in New Zealand for over 30 years and is a member of the Waikato Tramping Club. He has recently been co-opted to fill a vacancy on the executive.

Alan is particularly interested in contributing his time and effort toward the issues of tourism management, climate change, public access, pest control, and kauri dieback.

You can read more about him here.

Expanded list – now over 60 titles. All prices slashed. Most are $20 or less. Some books are out of print, so could be collectors’ items now.

Grab yourself a bargain, do some early Christmas shopping or bolster your club’s library.

https://www.fmc.org.nz/sales/ fmc-books/

The Ministry for Primary Industries is currently reviewing the Walking Access Act, the legislation which governs the Walking Access Commission. Public feedback is sought before 2 July 2019. A public feedback paper and summary are available online on the MPI website.

FMC believes the Act remains generally sound legislation. It enables WAC to set national standards and coordinate local and regional efforts to enhance access through private land and establish walkways. WAC has had many successes over the past 20 years. However, much remains to be done and WAC’s effectiveness is being weakened by lack of resources, weak governance and low recognition by key authorities or NGOs.

Clubs and individual supporters are strongly encouraged to submit on the Walking Access Act review.

FMC is stoked to see WorkSafe’s new guidance about health & safety law and recreational access. This vexed issue has been needlessly causing concerned landowners to block access because they were concerned about their liability under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The new guidance couldn’t be clearer: If someone accesses land for recreation and hurts themselves as a result of the recreation activity, the land manager/owner who provided access isn’t responsible.

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With NZ Speleological Society’s Ian Millar and DOC’s Lauren Kelly, FMC Exec member Neil Silverwood has authored the Western South Island Cave and Karst Operational Plan. This is a very comprehensive document that provides guidance for the Department’s management of caves and karst on the West Coast, consistent with relevant legislation and statutory planning documents. The document was signed off by Mark Davies, Regional Director of Operations for the Western South Island, in December 2018.

Congratulations (and thanks to) Neil, Ian and Lauren on an impressive piece of work.

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Are you excited about winter yet? Have you tried spending a night in your tent on top of a snowy mountain? If you haven't, you should - it is a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience.

In our latest Wilderlife post, we share some tips and tricks on how to set up camp in the snow.

We are holding one of three Executive meetings we have each year at the same time as the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival. The FMC Executive will be present and pleased to speak with you on the Friday and Saturday nights at the 'trade show'. FMC President Jan Finlayson will be making a 20 minute presentation as part of the Sunday 'Nature and Environment Show'. Visit www.mountainfilm.nz to book tickets and www.fmc.org.nz/members-area/nzmff/ to learn about hosting a national tour show or getting free films for your school.

We've had a few entries, and look forward to a few more snowy shots of you and your latest copy of Backcountry magazine in the mountains! To be in to win an ART OF COMPOSITION course, (sponsored by Ray Salisbury from www.hotpixels.co.nz) send a photo of someone reading a copy of Backcountry magazine in the outdoors to photocomp@fmc.org.nz. Open to all FMC individual supporters, and members of FMC affiliated clubs. Entries close 31st July.

We've recently ventured into this new (to us) social platform, looking to reach out to more corners of the outdoor community. Find us on Instagram @federatedmountainclubs or take a sneak peak on www.instagram.com/federatedmountainclubs/. Tag us if you're keen to be re-grammed on our page!

Does your club have a lodge, gear hire service, van or anything else you'd like the wider outdoor community to use? A reunion or event you'd like to advertise to all Backcountry readers? FMC 'Little Ads' appear at the back of each issue. Activities or services which aren't intended to make a profit (i.e. reunions) are free, all other club ads are charged at 50% of the normal rates. Visit our website, or contact Dan Clearwater adverts@fmc.org.nz 021 215 7059 to place an ad.

All members, past and present are warmly invited to PTC’s celebration, held over the weekend of 8 and 9 November. Activities include a lunch event (with anniversary cake!) and a club day walk in the local area. Contact pukekohetrampingclub@gmail.com to learn more.