It is 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.

Since FMC President Robin McNeill has decided not to lead our organization in the coming year, a new President will also 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023.

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

Teams of Backcountry Trust volunteers have begun to work alongside DOC to clear tracks in cyclone affected zones.

DOC are continuing to assess areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. As assessments are completed, or as areas are opened, DOC will update their website, so please make sure you visit the DOC website before venturing into the hills.

Please note that just because an area is opened does not mean that all the tracks have been fully checked, so please take these additional precautions in North, Central and Eastern North Island areas:

• Allow for extra travel time to negotiate windfall or track damage.
• Carry an emergency shelter and enough clothes for an unplanned night out.
• Take an emergency locator beacon with you.
• Have appropriate means to navigate off-track if required.
• Be prepared to turn back if trail conditions aren’t viable.
• If you venture out and come across any track or hut damage, please report it at this link.

In particular, the following information will ensure it gets attended to as quickly as possible:

• GPS coordinates (NZTM format preferred)
• Photos of the damage
• Measurements (for example, approximately how big are the trees across the track? How many are there? How long is the slip?)
• A detailed description

Providing this information is the best way the community can help recovery efforts on public conservation land.

For a detailed update on affected areas, read more on our website.

In April 2022 the new Incorporated Societies Act was passed into law.  The new Act requires all societies to re-register under the new Act, any time between October 2023 and April 2026.  Two key requirements of this process are that societies must create a Constitution (i.e., Rules) that comply with the new Act, and larger societies that are not already reporting under the External Reporting Board (XRB) accounting rules for their financial statements will now need to do so.  

There are a lot of requirements of the new Act which are not new and/or which are unlikely to have any significant impact on an existing society.

Find out more in our latest Outdoor Community resource.

If you have suggestions for other topics to cover as part of our Good Practice column, then please contact us at development@fmc.org.nz.

Winter is still 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 resources in Wilderlife on how to run a club photo competition, either as a club night or online. 

The top shots from your club's competition can then be entered into the FMC photo competition, which closes on 1 September 2023 for Individual Supporters, and on 15 September for affiliated clubs.  

See more on our website.

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, starting 1 August 2023. If you'd like to bring the tour to your town, see the instructions on the festival's website. 

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.

The Waimea Tramping Club is celebrating 50 years of tramping! The following events are scheduled to celebrate this milestone:

• 29 April 2023: a walk to Hackett Hut for scones, tea and coffee
• 29 April 2023: an evening dinner

Please see the club's website for details of the walk and dinner.  To register interest for the dinner or for any inquiries, email wtc.richmond@gmail.com.

The Southland Tramping Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary on King's Birthday weekend. Former and current club members are invited to join in celebrating this milestone.  

Dates are Friday 2 June to Monday 5 June 2023.

Contact stc75jubilee@gmail.com.