It’s that time of the year again when we ask all our member clubs to think about nominating someone for the Executive. It is a stimulating body to work with, bringing together people from right around NZ and dealing with a wide range of outdoor recreation related issues.

Likewise, if you are passionate about outdoor recreation and you support the work we do, if you have time and skills you’d like to contribute – especially in policy, planning, law, or administration – FMC would love to have you on board.

To learn a bit more about what the FMC executive do, and what being on the executive means, take a look at our FMC Executive prospective member FAQ.

If this sounds like your thing, get a member club to nominate you!

Nominations can be on this form, or a club may simply email its nominations directly to eo@fmc.org.nz, provided each nominee also sends an email consenting to the nomination. All nominations must be received by e-mail no later than 5pm on 7 April 2021.

For any other questions, please contact eo@fmc.org.nz.

FMC awaits a decision on Griffin Creek Hydro Limited's (GCHL) concession application to run a hydro scheme at Griffin Creek, near Lake Brunner.  Readers will know that we have long taken a strong interest in this issue.  The area is a world class place for our canyoning members to do their thing, and the forest is ecologically significant.  The risks of the project are also high, with large pipes to be laid in a trench under steep old-growth forest traversing the Alpine Fault.  Since the outset of our interest at Griffin Creek, we have been dismayed by DOC's poor handling of GCHL's application.  

From go to woah, the Griffin Creek saga has been long and sorry.  The applicant never put up a clear proposal, let alone a proper environmental analysis of a clear proposal.  That was not lawful.  But for whatever reason, DOC has played along, trying even to do the applicant's job for it.  As it stands, DOC has brazenly ignored the protections of proper concessions process.  It has potentially breached at least seven sections of its own Act, and broken a promise it made to FMC about our input.

It is time for the GCHL to put up a clear proposal. It is time for the public to see that clear proposal. And it is time for DOC to process that clear proposal according to the Conservation Act and its own promises. If GCHL and DOC are unwilling or unable to take all those steps, it is time for the saga to end. It is time for Griffin Creek to be left alone. FMC encourages members to watch this decision closely, and support us with next steps if DOC does not do the right thing at Griffin Creek. At minimum, we plan on sending DOC’s Director-General Lou Sanson a copy of his own Act.

You can read more on our website here.

For many, the affiliation to FMC is the acknowledgement of your trust in us to do the advocacy as best we can, on your behalf.  Whilst the committed volunteers of our executive accept that responsibility, in turn we will also gratefully accept helpful support when it comes to our advocacy objectives.

One area where clubs can, if they wish, make an additional contribution is submissions to notified consultation processes. In a nutshell, FMC believes it can add to the effectiveness of our submissions, if our member clubs write their own letters supporting the FMC position. 

Check out the Wilderlife resource on submissions, which explains

• FMC’s submission process
• Ways for clubs to contribute to our common submission goals
• Advice on how to write your own submission

Federated Mountain Clubs has written a comprehensive submission on the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill. The Bill makes significant changes to the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 and the Land Act 1948, which provide for Crown pastoral leases and their management. It was introduced to Parliament in July 2020.

Read more

FMC is deeply appreciative of the generous financial support from the Maerewhenua Trust.

The Maerewhenua Trust provides the most significant source of FMC's income after membership fees, and has done so for a number of years. Established by John Simpson, his foresight to build a significant income generating asset base over time has enabled the Trust, from its commercial property investments, to make regular contributions to FMC. Thanks to these, FMC is able to have a much wider reach and impact, and FMC's volunteers can focus on the core purposes of the organization rather than on fundraising.

For more information see www.maerewhenuatrust.org.nz

Come join the Waikato Tramping Club in celebrating its upcoming anniversary with activities on May 8th - 9th and 15th -16th! Meet up with your old tramping and skiing friends, as well as present members, and have a look at old photos and relive past trips.

For more details about the events and to RSVP, please visit the event's page on Wilderlife, or contact waikatotrampingclub@gmail.com - Selwyn & Dianne June 07 843 3066 or 027 497 8151.

Winter is a while away, but it's the perfect time to run a club photo competition! Looking at your club mates’ great photos of last summer certainly gets the conversations going over a hot cuppa…

To help clubs run their first comp, or help streamline existing comps with new ideas, we’ve compiled a resource on “how to run a club photo competition” on Wilderlife.

The top shots from your club comp can then be entered into the FMC competition, which closes on 1st September for Individual Supporters, and 15th September for affiliated clubs.

www.fmc.org.nz/photo-competition 

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 from 1st of August. To bring the tour to your town, visit the festival website to learn how. 

Also, as part of FMC’s sponsorship of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival, we are able to offer a package of festival films for FREE for schools to show to their students.

Register your school's interest by visiting our website:

www.fmc.org.nz/mountainfilm

Have a sneak peak at the new autobiography of Kiwi Colin Putt: the leader of the first expedition to attempt Carstensz Pyramid, sailor of replica 7th century canoes from Indonesia to Madagascar and polar explorer. 

Take a look on Wilderlife

FMC's monthly newsletters help members who aren't following our Facebook page to keep up to date with important news and member information. Club secretaries are encouraged to forward this email to the club, include its contents in your own newsletters, or simply remind members to look at www.fmc.org.nz/newsletters each month, where the current and past newsletters are available. 

Anyone who would like to receive the newsletter directly from FMC, may request to go on our mailing list by contacting our administrator.