FMC Newsletter February 2024

Upper Kauri Track, Montana Heritage Trail, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. (c) Shaun Barnett.

Waitakere Ranges

In Auckland Council's Regional Park Management Plan 2022 (RPMP) there was a commitment by the Council to create a new Waitakere Ranges recreation and track reopening plan involving consultations with all key stakeholders. FMC is acknowledged in that plan as a key stakeholder representing tramping organisations. It is puzzling that the Council has done nothing visible since the RPMP was published to progress the committed planning processes, so we are endeavouring to understand why.

At the start of this year the primary iwi for the Waitakere Ranges - Te Kawerau ā Maki - published a proposal for a Heart of Ngahere Sanctuary which contains, amongst other things, a well considered suggestion of the next round of tracks that could be opened, while also maintaining significant areas as a sanctuary. It is an outline proposal only, so FMC and Auckland's Friends of Regional Parks will be meeting with Te Kawerau ā Maki soon to enable an exchange of views on the proposal.

A significant question then arises for Auckland Council as to how the Te Kawerau ā Maki proposal relates to the RPMP planning process that the Council is committed to progressing. As we learn more over the coming weeks, we will provide further updates.

Kaikōura Peninsula from the air. (c) Danilo Hegg

Jimmy Armers Track in Kaikōura protected into the future

The popular Jimmy Armers Track on Kaikōura Peninsula has had its access across private land legalized – thanks to Symes family and Herenga ā Nuku - the Outdoor Access Commission.

Most of the existing track was on an unformed legal road, but there were significant deviations onto Melville and Julie Symes’ property. The Symes wanted to ensure the community and tourists would continue to have access along the track into the future if their land were to change hands.

Herenga ā Nuku chief executive Ric Cullinane says, “This is an example of local people working to improve their community. We can help turn their practical and popular public access into something that will survive for future generations.”

Gannet greeting display. (c) Geoff McKay, Manawatu TSC.

FMC photo competition 2024

FMC would like to encourage clubs and individual supporters who haven't entered before, or haven't entered for a few years, to give it a go in 2024 and enter our photo competition.

Club photo competitions are a great social event, building camaraderie and club spirit, as Sally Stockdale from Wakatipu TC says in her Wilderlife article. You don't have to be a professional photographer to enter. For tips on how to make it easier or ideas to get started, check out our page about "how to run a photo competition". Photo competitions can be run as a club night, or entirely online, and clubs can enter as few as one or two photos.

All the information on how to enter is available on our website.

Entries close for individual supporters on 1 September 2024, and for FMC affiliated clubs on 15 September 2024. If you have any questions, or if you would like help with your clubs' competition or entries, please contact photocomp@fmc.org.nz.

Loss of a dear and respected member of our community

Some of you might have heard the devastating news about Lewis Ainsworth, a highly respected and passionate member of NZ’s outdoor community, who tragically passed away in January.

Lewis was involved in a serious helicopter accident in Canada while operating in his professional capacity as a heli-ski guide. He was a President of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association and IFMGA Mountain Guide and worked devotedly for years as a mountain guide, ski patroller and a rescue team member.

To support Lewis's family and friends through this difficult time, the Lewis Ainsworth Legacy Fund was established by Lewis's good friend Jim Young. Any donations received will be used to support the costs associated with bringing Lewis home to New Zealand and to support his family in the coming months. Join us in supporting this worthy cause.

First round of FMC Youth Award Grants closes 15 March

Through the generous support of the Maerewhenua Trust, these cash grants help candidates of the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award and Scouts NZ's Venturer Award with the cost of their backcountry journeys and expeditions.

Check out some of the stories of past recipients on Wilderlife.

Applications for the current round of FMC Youth Award Grants close on 15 March 2024. Visit our website to learn more and to apply.

Epic giveaway

We have some copies of the new Ray Salisbury's book Epic to give away!
In return, we would love to hear some of your stories about epic facts and fables in the outdoors. What was a fact and what turned out to be a fable? Hut still on the map, but not there after 9h tramp? A a piece of glacier floating in the lake or a tail of taniwha? What was that strange noise outside the hut in the dark? A kākāpō or ...?

Send us your stories - the best ones will be published on Wilderlife and you'll receive a copy of Epic – a book about some of the most epic adventures of Kiwi explorers.

Entries should be 800-1200 words, with 4-5 captioned photographs. FMC is the judge of the competition, and our decision is final. Runners-up will still have their stories featured on our Wilderlife blog. By entering you give permission for FMC to publish your entry on our website. Please send your stories to communications@fmc.org.nz.

Jane Gosden. (c) Don Bogie

Alpine daisy hunting with Jane Gosden

“I grew up in National Parks around New Zealand,” is a statement not many of us can claim.

But Jane Gosden can. As a keen ecologist with a special interest in alpine plants and years of working in and above the bush line, she recently published a field guide Mountain Daisies - A Guide to Celmisia in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Read the story about her life and work in high, wild places and her love for everything that inhabits them – especially plants.

Almer Hut under a starry sky. (c) Crystal Brindle, Fiordland Tramping and Outdoor Recreation Club

Alpine huts book

Sandy Nelson of Twizel is writing a book about the alpine huts in Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park and possibly Tai Poutini Westland National Park, to be published by Potton & Burton.

Sandy is collecting anecdotes, stories, and photos for possible inclusion and welcomes contact from past and present hut users, even if it's just to tell her your favourite hut and why.

Sandy and her husband Dean Nelson lived and worked at Aoraki in the 1980s and have an abiding love for the area and its history and a deep affinity for the huts. Please email Sandy at sandyjanenelson@gmail.com.

2024 Club subscriptions

Club subscription information will be sent to clubs this year by email only. If your club doesn't receive anything from FMC on 1 March 2024, please contact administrator@fmc.org.nz.

Donate to the Mountain & Forest Trust

To support activities such as research, projects related to outdoor recreation, legal work, books, and more.

Maerewhenua Trust

FMC is grateful for the continued significant support from the Maerewhenua Trust. The contributions allow FMC to have a much wider reach and impact, and FMC's volunteers to focus on the core purposes of the organization.

FMC Supporter Card

Make the most of your FMC Supporter Card for savings on travel and touring, outdoor gear, magazines and digital accounts.

On Wilderlife: Tramping with youth

Working with youth in the outdoors can be a gift. Teacher and outdoors enthusiast Tim Swale knows this very well. In this article, he shares his experience working with youth in the outdoors, how to support them and what the support entails.

“We must closely guard the welfare of our National Parks and Reserves. These should not be regarded as the property of our minister or the government. They belong to the people of today and tomorrow. We must fight for their protection if necessary.” Fred Vosseler – Inaugural FMC President (1932)

Editor: Danilo Hegg. Feedback welcome to eo@fmc.org.nz

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Federated Mountain Clubs
PO Box 1604
Wellington, 6140
New Zealand

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