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.

This year is going to be a big one as the maximum third consecutive one-year term for our President comes to an end, and a new President will be elected.

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 6 April 2022.

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

Allan Brent is a member of the FMC Exec, and senior adviser at Environmental Law Initiative. In this piece, he and Matthew Hall examine the implications and potential consequences of the proposed streamlined process for the reclassification of stewardship land.

One of the main concerns is that DOC proposes to leave commercial activities, including mining proposals, on reclassified land unaffected. This means if stewardship land were to be designated as a national park, this reclassification would have no effect on existing concessions or mining permits. The minister has given interim direction that the panels must prioritise "the assessment for reclassification of any stewardship land where applications are sought for mining access arrangements".

Other concerns include the facts that the conservation values the panels should be assessing have not been clarified, despite long established guidelines; the expert panels' terms of reference are unknown; and a proposal is in place to remove a key Conservation Act barrier, which would make it easier to dispose of land before any value assessments have actually been made.

Brent and Hall fear that a rushed review may open the door to more mining on conservation land. FMC echoes these concerns, and is submitting on the discussion document.

Read the whole article on the RNZ website

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 15^th September for affiliated clubs.  

www.fmc.org.nz/photo-competition

Victoria and Emilie celebrated their 100^th day on the Te Araroa Trail as they reached Camp Stream Hut in Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park.

Follow their adventures on Instagram and Facebook, and read the latest digest of their adventures on Wilderlife.

As part of their journey, Victoria and Emilie are raising funds for both the FMC Mountain & Forest Trust and the Mental Health Foundation, through a Givealittle page. They have raised nearly $19,000 thus far.

Hutt Valley Tramping Club's lodge on Mt Ruapehu offers clean and comfortable backpacker-style accommodation and is an ideal base for club or group trips on the mountain.

Between 1 November and 1 June, clubs or groups are able to book exclusive use of the lodge for $30 per person per night. HVTC's lodge is situated at the top of Tennants Gully, about 30 minutes’ walk from the Top o the Bruce road end. It has five modern bunkrooms and can sleep up to 32 people. The deck catches all the afternoon sun and has a fantastic view of Tongariro and Ngauruhoe.

For more information, check out our website www.hvtc.org.nz or contact bookings officer Alison Newbald on Ruapehubookings@hvtc.org.nz.

Wondering how to get your club set up with these vital tools, but don't know where to start, or don't have a budget? Take a look at our latest Outdoor Community resource to find out how.

If you’ve got wisdom to share about these helpful topics for clubs, or suggestions for other topics to cover as part of our Good Practice column, then please contact us at development@fmc.org.nz.

ToaMusic is a NZ owned and operated company that created ToaPods, a sustainable in-ear headphone that is  plastic free, made from responsibly sourced bamboo. These in-ear headphones combine style & exceptional sound quality. 

Use code FMC2022 when you shop at www.toamusic.co and:

• You get 10% off the purchase price,
• FMC gets a donation of 10% of the purchase price,
• The team from ToaMusic plants a tree in your name along the banks of the Kaituna River in Rotorua.