FMC is delighted to welcome Minister for Conservation, Hon Kiritapu Allan to our 90^th event to provide a Ministerial Address. So far we are expecting Hon David Parker, Minister for the Environment, Hon Jaqcui Dean, National spokesperson for conservation and Hon Eugenie Sage, former Minister of Conservation to speak. 

We warmly invite you to register online for FMC's 90th anniversary celebrations. The $40 fee includes a buffet dinner on the Saturday night.

We have also published a full list of speakers (more to be confirmed soon) and information on the venue, food, discounted accommodation, and planned outdoor activities on our website.

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Applications for the FMC youth expedition scholarships and for the Simon Bell Memorial scholarship are now open. You have one more month to submit your application.

For information on how to apply, and to check your eligibility criteria, see the FMC website.

Why not download a scholarship poster to pin up in your clubrooms, local outdoors shop or climbing gym?

We are also offering training grants for the second year running, to support FMC clubs by making training opportunities more accessible. More information here.

Applications for both expedition scholarships and training grants close at 5pm on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

For any queries, e-mail our executive officer at eo@fmc.org.nz.

We are pleased to announce a great prize pool donated by our main sponsors, Bivouac Outdoor, and a great range of other goodies from Outfitters (RAB), Aspiring Safety, Potton & Burton, Local Dehy, YHA and Wilderness Magazine.

Entries close 1 September 2021 for individual supporters, and 15 September 2021 for clubs.

All the information is on our website: 

www.fmc.org.nz/photo- competition

If you need help with the entry process, or have any questions, please contact photocomp@fmc.org.nz.

"Safety in the Mountains" is FMC’s flagship booklet, first printed in 1937, revised and regularly updated since then.  The 11^th edition is out of stock but you can still view a free online version.

We are currently working on a reprint. We will endeavour to make "Safety in the Mountains" available again as soon as possible.

Storms in July 2021 have caused extensive damage to the Around the Mountain Track in Taranaki National Park. Repairs are expected to take several months.

The track damage comes on top of the loss of Lake Dive Hut, which was destroyed by fire last year.

With extreme weather events expected to become more common as a result of global warming, we should expect similar damage to our tramping tracks to become more frequent also. Before embarking on a trip, trampers are reminded to check the Department of Conservation website for any alerts affecting their trip plans.

Over 1,500 books from the late Arnold Heine’s collection will be sold in September, with some of the proceeds being generously donated to the FMC Mountain & Forest Trust by his widow, Jan.

Arnold’s unique book collection is strong in mountaineering and exploration titles from across the globe, with many out-of-print books on New Zealand’s mountaineering history, tramping, hunting, geology, ecology, conservation and culture, as well as guidebooks.

Please visit the FMC website for full information on the sale. 

Arnold Heine was a mountain legend, with a 64 year involvement with FMC, as executive member, president and patron.  He was a dear friend to many with significant achievements in the mountains of NZ and Antarctica. Arnold passed away in October 2019.  

Nick Shearer and Neil Sloan are creating a fully revised Mt Aspiring / Tititea and the Otago Alpine Regions guidebook for the NZAC. 
They are coordinating contributions for updated routes and information via a new Mt Aspiring Guidebook Facebook page. 

If you’ve got something to add, or just want a sneak peak at what is coming, head on over and like their page. 

Last year, the KTC celebrated their 60th Anniversary. Based in Wellington, and currently with 130 members, the KTC is self-styled as “A club set up in 1960 for people aged over 35 to tramp at a pace governed by their age and wisdom”. KTC has kept a marvelous history of its activities over the years, compiled into a series of anniversary books.

KTC and FMC warmly invite you to take a peek at the club's latest book, released publicly only a few months ago.

www.kaumatuatc.org.nz

We are pleased to announce that we are printing T-shirts for FMC’s 90^th anniversary. We expect these to be available for orders online in September 2021. Grab one to show your support for FMC at the anniversary event, and around town this coming summer!

There are both men’s and women’s cuts, with hard wearing print on quality cotton tees. $30 including NZ postage.

Ordering info, plus event registration, speaker profiles, programs, accommodation discounts and more will be available on

www.fmc.org.nz/90th

As part of our recreation transition campaign, we are pleased to welcome Kiwi Rail scenic train journeys to our member benefit scheme. 

A chance this year to take it a bit slower, with less of a carbon footprint compared to flying to your next bike-packing, tramping or climbing adventure.

See this and more than 50 other discounts on our website.

FMC is pleased to be supporting the Untamed Aotearoa Podcast in celebrating the outdoor community and wilderness areas of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Episode 12: Solo bush journeys in Te Urewera and Fiordland – Mark Jones

In this episode, we focus on two of his most memorable trips in New Zealand. ‘Salt and Pepper Hikoi’ was a 17 day traverse of Te Urewera. His kaupapa was to get all of his calories from the forest, while travelling a long distance through some of the most rugged bush in New Zealand. His most recent adventure was a gruelling 40 day solo traverse of Fiordland.

Listen to Episode 12 of Untamed Aotearoa Podcast to get to know Mark and find out more about his epic journeys here.