The Deed of Acknowledgement is an important step towards the reopening of Waitakere Ranges. Photo (c) Hazel Walton. 

Alongside other outdoor groups, we’ve been celebrating changes announced in early April to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which clarifies that landowners won’t be held responsible for injuries sustained by people engaging in outdoor activities on their land. FMC and the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust jointly led the campaign last year to improve access, and this shift finally feels like a win—removing a major barrier that has long hindered access to both private and public land.

Auckland Council has opened a consultation on a long-awaited Deed of Acknowledgement with local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua for the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area—an important step toward reopening tracks closed since 2018 due to kauri protection measures. While FMC supports the process, we’re urging all parties to streamline the next steps so the long-delayed Recreation and Track Plan can finally move forward. Check our website to learn more.

We’ve also been advised by DOC that plans to introduce charges for basic and bivvy huts from 2025/26 are on hold, to first understand the implications of a review of the visitor network that is underway, including impacts on basic and bivvy huts.

April each year is the time when clubs nominate their members to join our Executive Committee for the coming year. This year, we received 13 nominations from clubs, which means no election will be needed.

We are pleased to see some of our current committee members continue to join us for another year: Allan Brent (Canterbury Mountaineering Club), Jan Finlayson (Geraldine Tramping Club), Raymond Ford (Peninsula Tramping Club), Stu Gray (NZAC), Emma Gregg (Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club), Louise Hammersley (Victoria University Wellington Tramping Club), Nick McBride (Hutt Valley Tramping Club), Robin McNeill (Mountain Turk Club), Graham Pomeroy (Individual supporter, Nelson), Tony Walton (Auckland Tramping Club). We're excited to welcome a new committee member Liz Wightwick (Christchurch Tramping Club), to the team.

Megan Dimozantos continues as president for the year 2025/26, while Mick Abbott joins her as vice-president.

The new Committee will take office on May 16. More info about them will be available on our webpage in mid-May.

Every year, the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival attracts the outdoor community from around the country.

June is quickly approaching, and with it, another NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival! We are again excited to support this event, which will run in Wānaka from June 20 to 24 and in Queenstown from June 26 to 27. This is a great opportunity to catch up on the latest adventure and environment-themed films and connect with the vibrant outdoor community. We'll be there on the Wānaka dates and look forward to seeing you there! Tickets go on sale May 20.

If you're unable to attend the festival, you can bring the films to your town and raise money for your club! The festival’s national tour shows in cinemas, club rooms and school halls right around the country, starting 1 August 2025. If you'd like to bring the tour to your town, see the instructions on the festival's website.

As part of FMC’s sponsorship of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival, we offer a 45-minute selection of festival films for free for schools and Scout groups to show to their students. Register your school's interest by visiting our website.

Our April Club kōrero was postponed and we are holding the next one on May 14 at 7 pm. Please come along and add to the open discussion around:

• How can we better connect with and engage all outdoor enthusiasts who aren’t club members?
• Access issues you are facing and how FMC can help - this will include a short presentation by Herenga ā Nuku on their outdoor access map.

Please email Sophie at eo@fmc.org.nz to register for this event, and also if you have ideas for future kōrero topics you’d like to explore - we'd love to hear from you!

FMC is utterly grateful for the continued support of Maerewhenua Trust.

Much of FMC’s valuable work is made possible through the Trust’s generosity. We’re especially thankful that the annual grant from Maerewhenua Trust has recently been substantially increased.

This additional support comes at a critical time. With growing demands on our work and increasing pressure on the lands we seek to protect, the boost is both timely and deeply appreciated. It enables us to keep working in line with our strategic plan and strengthens our ability to advocate for the places that matter.

The lower gorges of Kaituna river will be lost if the dam proposal goes ahead. Photo (c) Michel Uhl. 

Whitewater New Zealand, one of our member clubs, is leading opposition against Taheke 8C's fast-track application for a hydro scheme on the Kaituna River. International paddlers, NZ Olympians, iwi, and environmental groups have united to protect this world-class paddling destination in the Bay of Plenty.

The developers recently reapplied after previous rejection. The fast-track process severely limits public input with no full notification period. If the referral application succeeds (approximately 100 working days), an expert panel will make the final decision with limited stakeholder consultation.

Whitewater NZ is coordinating opposition through multiple channels, working with local boards, government ministers, affected iwi groups, and downstream river users to weaken this referral application.

If you care about the future of New Zealand rivers, strengthen WWNZ's voice by becoming a member today. Passionate volunteers with legal, engineering, communications, environmental expertise, or those wishing to share their connection to the Kaituna are also encouraged to email communications@whitewater.nz to get involved in helping out.

If you would like to share information on the Fast Track projects, are starting a campaign, or are already involved in protecting places potentially affected by Fast Track proposals, please get in touch with FMC via eo@fmc.org.nz to see how we might be able to help.

Keep an eye out for Seek, the dog, and learn about the valuable work of Land SAR volunteers in May.

Throughout May, keep an eye out for Seek – the friendly fundraising dog mascot from Land Search and Rescue.

Spotting Seek is part of the annual Searchlight campaign, which celebrates and raises awareness of the vital work Land Search and Rescue does. As well as joining the fun in the hunt for Seek, you’ll also have the chance to win Searchlight prizes by donating to Land SAR. The pool of prizes includes FMC pack liners.

Find out more about the Searchlight campaign, and don’t forget to stay on the lookout for Seek!

Along with all other incorporated societies, FMC is required to create a Constitution that complies with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, as part of re-registration.

Last year, we sent out an email to member clubs outlining the key changes between our current Rules and our proposed new Constitution.
In May, we’ll invite our member clubs to vote on adopting our new Constitution. Voting will take place via email, opening on May 19 and closing on June 29.

Keep an eye out for an email from us with an invitation and guidelines on how to vote.

Early club weekend trips often involved arduous travel. Trip to Waipoua Forest, Easter 1929.  Photo from the book. 

FMC warmly congratulates the Auckland Tramping Club as they celebrate their 100th anniversary this year.

To mark the occasion, ATC has published 100 Years with Boots and Pack—a beautifully compiled book that shares the club’s rich history through photos, stories, and reflections.

Official celebrations will take place in October—visit their website for details on how to join in.

Congratulations, ATC! We’re stoked to have you as a strong and valued part of our outdoor community.

Despite encouraging news about recent changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act and the launch of a new access case map by Herenga ā Nuku, access challenges continue across the country.

FMC has long been involved in access issues nationwide, and we rely on your support to stay well-informed. If you come across any barriers to accessing public conservation land in your region, please get in touch and let us know.

Please send your observations, concerns or closure reports to eo@fmc.org.nz

FMC wants to remain relevant to our member clubs, now and into the future.

Over the coming weeks, we will be personally engaging with every FMC member club to chat about what our members think about and want from FMC. We also hope to learn more about how your club is doing and any challenges you are facing.

Look out for an email or a phone call from Sophie, our Executive Operations Officer.

 Photo (c) Davide Conti.

The FMC team is made up of a skilled and passionate volunteer Executive Committee supported by a small staff team.

If you believe in the work that we do and would like to support us, please join us or make a donation to keep those hills as they are. Your financial support helps us overcome increasing operational costs so we can keep doing what we do.

“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)

Copyright © 2024 Federated Mountain Clubs NZ (Inc), All rights reserved.

If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, e-mail our administrator.

UNSUBSCRIBE