FMC, in conjunction with the Queenstown Climbing Club, has started a petition asking NZSki, the Minister for Conservation and the Director-General of DOC to ensure the long term future of the iconic landscape of the Remarkables.

We are asking for your support and signature for:

· Guaranteed year-round free vehicle access to the Remarkables Conservation Area and;

· Asking DOC to urgently re-classify this area to give it the environmental protection it deserves.

Sign, share and share again!

You can read more background information on our website and in the Otago Daily Times.

FMC was instrumental in the protection of Griffin Creek Canyon last year; in this podcast you can hear New Zealand Canyoning Association President Dan Clearwater explain how it was achieved.

Dan is the author of "Canyoning in New Zealand", and The Wild Podcast also covers his explorations and adventures with canyoning, canyon SAR, and advocacy in partnership with FMC.

Dan also happens to be FMC’s Development Officer.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust is challenging you to climb 8848m – the height of Everest – in March to help remote mountain communities in Nepal.

You can climb, run, walk or bike it. Complete it solo or share the climb between a team. Go hard out and tackle it in one weekend, or spread the challenge over the month. It’s up to you!

Join the Summit Challenge in 2020 and help bring quality education, vital healthcare and safe drinking water to the Everest region of Nepal.

Register here

Over the last two months, 22 young people headed to the hills with the added support of a cash grant from FMC. Those young people were completing the expedition component of their Scouts NZ Venturer Awards or Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award. We're publishing their stories and personal reflections on Wilderlife, as they come to us. If you know young people who are working towards these awards, or mentors in local schools or youth groups who are involved, we encourage you to pass on information about these grants.

All the information is available on FMC's website: www.fmc.org.nz/youthawardgrant/ and the next round of applications closes on 15th of March.

With our year's focus on family tramping ongoing, we're very pleased that "Monster Merinos" is offering discounts to FMC members. This family owned business specialises in kids merino clothes, which are made in NZ.

Also, Newmarket store "Outfitters" is now offering discounts to FMC and NZAC members.

Visit www.fmc.org.nz/discount-card/ to see all the discounts on offer to FMC discount card holders.

In early March all Member Clubs will receive information related to membership renewal for 2020 and nominations for the Executive.

Start thinking now about whether there is someone in your club who would like to join our Executive to advocate on behalf of all our member clubs.

FMC’s Executive deeply values the support received from the 90+ clubs that currently choose to affiliate; without the weight of your numbers and the mandate that comes with it, we simply could not do the work that FMC was set up to do. 

We thank all our Full Clubs for the importance they place on supporting us, by paying FMC a fee for every member.  With FMC affiliation subs coming due in March, we appeal to Partial Clubs to consider the value that FMC brings to your club and its members. 

We work hard on your behalf, and if your club sees the value, and is able to do so, we’d be very grateful for you to declare and pay for a few more members. You can find our financial reports in the FMC archives, but they show how our finances rely on subs from our member clubs; every little bit counts!

Alternatively, we’d appreciate you promoting ‘Top-Up’ membership to your club members, which allows individuals to make their own decision to give FMC just a little extra.

Either way, we rely upon and appreciate your support, affiliation and other contributions, however big or small.

We're always on the look out for content for our Wilderlife.nz blog; reports, opinions, events coming up... So if you'd like to contribute, please get in touch.

Also, did you know FMC clubs can get 50% off or free ads in Backcountry magazine?

We're keen to help you promote your club's events, reunions, lodges, courses and more. Please contact us to see how we can help you.