It is with regret that FMC has decided to cancel this event.

The decision was made at our October 2021 meeting after much discussion. Until there is a degree of certainty with COVID-19 and in-person events the Executive decided that it wasn’t prudent to invite people from all over the country to Hokitika. Also, the effort and resources to organise an event with a high chance of being cancelled would be wiser utilized elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the cancellation decision was made after the November issue of Backcountry went to press: that issue contains out-of-date information about the conference being still on. We apologize for any confusion caused.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the FMC Executive Officer.

FMC's long-running annual photo competition showcases the places and moments captured by our members. This year, the winning photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at the Christchurch Arts Centre. 

The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday 14 December to Sunday 19 December at the Pūmanawa Gallery Space upstairs in the Christchurch Arts Centre.

Free entry.

New Zealand has approximately 56,000km of Unformed Legal Roads (ULR), also known as paper roads. Paper roads have a well defined legal status and in many cases provide public access to public conservation land.

FMC’s #sameasSH1 campaign

• Unformed legal roads have the same legal status as state highways, or indeed any formed road. They are 20 meters wide, publicly owned, and usual road rules apply.
• FMC affirms the status of unformed legal roads, and expects political parties to do the same.
• Unformed legal roads are generally under the jurisdiction of local authorities (city or district councils). Some local authorities give in to landowner requests to stop adjacent unformed legal roads. FMC asks that the legislation be changed, to transfer the authority on ULRs to the Walking Access Commission.
• FMC supports the formation of some presently unformed legal roads, whether that’s simply by marking, cutting foot or MTB tracks, or even in rare circumstances for vehicle access, where this benefits the general public in providing access to public conservation land.
  

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Commemorative 90^th anniversary T-shirts are available from our friends at UNCO tees.

Don't miss out!

In the wake of the tragedy on Whakaari/White Island, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reviewing the health and safety regulations for Adventure Activities. The proposal was publicly notified; submissions closed in early November.

While it is clear that recreational adventure activities fall entirely outside of the scope of this review, FMC is concerned that some of the proposals may have unanticipated side effects that are not the intended focus of these proposed changes, to the detriment of all outdoor recreation. FMC has thus written a submission on the proposed changes. 

Read more

In September 2021, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) announced that a tenure review agreement has been reached for Otago high country pastoral lease Hukarere Station. The 7,177ha high country station extends from the Black Umbrella Range to the Pomahaka River.

Read more

The NZ Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) has upgraded its locator beacon registration database this year, and is inviting all owners of a PLB registered before 25 February 2021 to check and update their details.

Your previous registration information is still held on file in the event of an activation, but owners moving to the new system will be able to amend the registration details themselves (in the past, you had to email changes through, which had to be manually entered by RCC staff).

https://www.beacons.org.nz/already-registered-a-beacon/

After a few COVID-19 related speed bumps, Victoria and Emilie are going full steam ahead on Te Araroa in the Central North Island.

Along the way, they will be telling the stories about the mental health benefits of time spent in wild places and are determined to inspire as many other Kiwis to get out and explore our magnificent natural environments.  

As part of their journey, they will be raising funds for both the Mental Health Foundation, and the FMC Mountain & Forest Trust through a Givealittle page.  

Read the latest digest of their adventures on Wilderlife, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. 

This magnificent work by Geoff Spearpoint recounts a love affair with transalpine journeys in the Southern Alps. Winner of the 2020 NZ Mountain Film Festival ‘NZ Mountain Book of the Year’, it is a truly magnificent addition to any mountain enthusiast's library.

Normal price is $59.99, but until March next year, you can get it for $48 with free postage in NZ. Order online at www.pottonandburton.co.nz and look in the November 2021 issue of Backcountry for the discount code. 

We have two copies of this magnificent book to give away to FMC members. 

To enter, send an email with KHUMBU as the subject, along with a photo of your current FMC discount card to development@fmc.org.nz. The winners will be drawn from a hat on 1^st December and informed by email. 

Our own Backcountry editor Peter Laurenson provides a deep and engaging insight into one of the most spectacular mountainscapes of the planet. It is a real life story about a unique and special place, experienced in a unique way, over a period that is unlikely to ever be the same again. 

His story is anchored with the growth of friendship with a special Sherpa family, woven with tales of treks with his own three sons and richly illustrated with stunning photography. Read other reviews on the author's website.

FMC’s Mountain and Forest Trust and NZAC’s D.O.W. Hall fund provided publication grants to support this magnificent title. RRP $69.99 from all good bookstores or www.batemanbooks.co.nz/product/khumbu. For a 20% FMC discount and free shipping, enter code FMC01 at the checkout.