FMC is proud to offer Youth Scholarships for the 9th year running, and the Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship for the 4th consecutive year.
For information on how to apply, and to check your eligibility criteria, see https://www.fmc.org.nz/scholarship/.

For any queries, e-mail our executive officer at eo@fmc.org.nz. 
Applications close 20 September 2019.

FMC is delighted to welcome the NZ Speleological Society as our newest member club.

With the addition of the Cavers to our ranks, FMC represents member clubs who enjoy nearly every corner of Aotearoa's wild places; gliding above, floating through, travelling on and now exploring below the ground.

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At its June 2019 meeting in Wanaka, the FMC Executive voted to resign from the Mountain Safety Council, effective 1 July 2020. The 12 month notice period is to give MSC an opportunity to formally address the concerns we have been raising since their restructure that disestablished their volunteer-run instruction courses.

“Times have changed since 1965 when FMC helped set up the MSC," says FMC President Jan Finlayson. "The MSC isn’t relevant to most trampers, hunters, or mountaineers in its present format.”

Read more

The Backcountry Trust was founded three years ago by FMC, NZDA and Trail Fund NZ. The Trust funds and facilitates the volunteer-led maintenance and upgrade of huts and tracks on public conservation land. It is an independent entity with ongoing funding from the Department of Conservation.

The Trust is looking for a self-motivated and efficient administration contractor to support  its growing activities. The successful applicant will be proficient with cloud based systems such as Xero accounting, AirTable databases, Weebly website admin, Facebook and Instagram social media. They will be paid on a 'contract for services' basis and work remotely from their own home or office. Apply at

www.backcountrytrust.org.nz/administration-contract-application.

FMC is aware that the Government is reviewing the Incorporated Societies Act which is over 110 years old. The amended Act will require most Incorporated Societies to amend their Rules, with a generous grace period. FMC is maintaining a watching brief on this process and will endeavour to provide some advice to clubs when required, to assist you to change your rules as appropriate. If you, or anyone in your club would like to read about the present state of this review then go to

https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/business/regulating-entities/incorporated-societies-act-review/

"Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced the newest addition to New Zealand's Great Walks network. The Department of Conservation will now work with the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Trust to bring the walk up to Great Walk standard and change it from a current two night walk to a three night experience. Approximately $5 million of funding is dedicated to the upgrade. The new Great Walk will be set to open in late 2022 after the track upgrades are complete".

FMC will keep a watchful eye to ensure use of Port Craig Schoolhouse and access to the South Coast Track beyond are not compromised, and commercial development associated with the track's new Great Walk status is kept under check.

Read more on the FMC website

Read DOC's press release

FMC needs you! Our members and supporters are our eyes and ears. While FMC prides itself in keeping a close eye on what is going on on our public conservation lands, we can't be everywhere. When our members seek our help we will act where we see an opportunity to make a difference.

Recent successful actions that have come directly from member reports include: the prevention of the establishment of heli-hiking in the North Routeburn and Mt Titiroa and helping thwart plans to proceed with a hydro-power scheme that would have inundated the nationally significant canyoning within Griffin Creek.

Most recently we have opposed another proposed private road that threatens to dissect Whangapoua Forest in the Coromandel, one of our Forgotten lands: https://www.fmc.org.nz/2019/07/11/fmc-opposing-another-private-road-through-coromandel-forest/

We're delighted to announce our sponsors for this years FMC photo competition. You can see the prizes and all the information about how to enter on our FMC website.

Entries for FMC Individual Supporters close on 1st September, whilst FMC Clubs have until 15th September to enter.

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.

Winter camping in the New Zealand mountains is an easier proposition than it is in many mountain ranges overseas. Nonetheless, the risk of hypothermia should not be taken lightly, and being adequately prepared will at least make the difference between an enjoyable experience and a miserable one.

In this second post in a series on alpine winter camping, we discuss a few tips and tricks on how to stay warm and comfortable while out in the cold.

Local businesses have helped the Trust purchase three more PLB's to bring the Trust's hire pool to six. These can be hired from $5 a day, $30 a week, compared to commercial hire rates around $15 a day. The trust aims to ensure finance isn't a reason to not take a PLB into the hills..

Those wanting to book a personal locator beacon, which can be collected from the Masterton Trust Lands Trust building at 189 Queen Street in Masterton between 8:00am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday (other times by arrangement) can call 06-370 0155.

We're pleased to welcome Air Charter Karamea, Packrafting Queenstown, NZ Geographic magazine and MT Outdoors (Wanaka) to the FMC member benefits scheme. Visit the members area on our website and use your FMC discount card to gain these and many other benefits.