Bush at Cape Palliser, 2023 competition entry. Photo (c) Lindsay Muir, Kaimai Ramblers Tramping Group.

There is still time to enter this year's photo competition!

Individual Supporters have until 1 September 2024, whilst FMC member clubs have until 15 September. We are pleased to announce a great prize pool, donated by our main sponsor, Bivouac Outdoor, and a great range of other goodies from RAB, Potton & Burton, Fiordland Packs, Excio and Wilderness Magazine.

All the details can be found on our website. If you have any questions or need assistance with your entry, please email photocomp@fmc.org.nz.

Sophie in her element.

We are pleased to welcome Sophie Tucker to our team as the new Executive Officer Operations.

Based in Wānaka, Sophie is a keen outdoor enthusiast with an honours degree in mechanical engineering. She brings with her a plethora of project managing experiences and organisational skills, which she gathered through her work for Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust and in her senior project managing role in the oil and gas industry.

Some of you might know Sophie through Taranaki Alpine Club, where she took up the role of committee member, trips co-ordinator, instructor and leader, reviewing safety management plans and project managing the significant renovation of Taranaki Alpine Club’s lodge.

Sophie, we're excited to have you on board and looking forward to working together!

With the support of FMC Youth Award, Otamatea High School students got to experience Kepler Track in winter.

September is the last chance to apply for our awards, grants and scholarships! With four different scholarships to choose from, there is an adventure awaiting everyone. The deadline is 15 September.

FMC Expeditions Scholarships offer two options. The FMC Youth Scholarship is open to members of affiliated or associated clubs of FMC, and also to individual supporters of FMC. The Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship uses the same criteria as the FMC Youth Scholarship, but is open to adventurers of any age, recognising that there is adventure within us all. To learn more about the FMC Expedition Scholarships, check out our website.

FMC Training Grant is open to FMC clubs to support training opportunities for members. You can find more information about the FMC Training Grant on our website.

FMC Youth Award Grant is for candidates of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award: Adventurous Journeys, at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels or Scouts NZ Venturer Award Expeditions at Gold and Silver levels. If you would like to apply for the FMC Youth Award Grant, please visit our website.

The Wāhine job, directed by Deanna Gerlach and a runner-up for the Mountain Culture Award, features a women-only BCT team.

Each year, the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival aims to showcase films from high-octane sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking and mountain biking. It also features increasingly topical environmental and mountain culture films to inform and entertain.

The festival is currently touring New Zealand during August and September, with shows across the country. Click here to find a screening near you. If the show isn't already coming to your town, why not host your own screening, possibly as a fundraiser for your club?

Federated Mountain Clubs is proudly supporting the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival to offer a selection of films which can be shown free of charge to school students and Scout groups.

Any school or Scout group can register by emailing programme@mountainfilm.nz. Click here for more information.

Among many other fields of interest in FMC work, Jan has recently been focusing on tenure review implementations, access to Lake Sumner and the upper Hurunui and archiving project.

Kia ora FMC clubs and supporters,

Many tenure review easements and conservation covenants have been paid for by the public but not put in place. I've been working with DOC on implementation. Alongside me in this are former DOC tenure review managers. Some of the reviews in question were completed many years ago (on paper, that is). A few are still not in DOC hands, first needing LINZ survey and disposal. The formal tenure review process was scrapped in 2022. The public needs to get the recreational access and nature protection it has paid for.

Access to Lake Sumner and the upper Hurunui has long been difficult, but the LINZ aspect of this legal road issue - the main factor - is now resolved. District council-level issues remain. With the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association, I've been working on clearing this blockage to enable legal public four-wheel-drive access to the upper Hurunui.

Along with representatives of several other recreation and conservation groups, I'm in DOC's Tahr Plan Implementation Liaison Group. DOC is steadily reducing tahr numbers and advancing the science around tahr. Over 7,100 tahr were culled in the 2023-2024 season, with recreational and commercial hunting additional. Over the last five years, 38,405 have been culled in addition to recreational and commercial control. The 2024-2025 season began on 1 July. You can view tahr sightings and control maps on the DOC website.

It will be 100 years, in 2031, since FMC started building its legacy of advocacy for recreation, conservation, and public access. I've been running our near-complete archiving project and preparing the ground for FMC's centenary book celebrating our treasured collectively-owned backcountry.

See you in the hills,

Jan

Scenic Hotel Group is New Zealand’s largest privately owned and operated hotel group with 17 properties in some idyllic tramping locations in New Zealand.

Discounted rates for FMC members can be reserved in three easy ways by using the promo code: TRAMPING. You can either book online via their website, by calling 0800 69 69 63 or by emailing reservatons@scenicgroup.co.nz

Nelson Tramping Club is celebrating 90 years on Sunday 22 September. The current committee is organising an informal gathering at Fairfield House with a slap-up afternoon tea and refreshments. All members, present, past and partners are very welcome. There will be projected photos of the club's history and other displays. The afternoon tea will be served at about 3:30 pm. Walks in the Grampians are planned prior (optional, no registration required). Gather at 1 pm at Fairfield House to join groups taking either a short or a longer walk. For more information email the club's secretary: secretary.nelsontramping@gmail.com

Napier Tramping Club is celebrating 50 years and marking the occasion on Saturday 12 October with a tramp up to Kaweka J in the morning, followed by a celebration dinner in the evening.  Ex-members and friends are welcome. To find more information and to register, visit their website.  

Congratulations to both clubs and thank you for your support!

“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)

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