Applications for the 2018 FMC Expedition Scholarships are now open.
FMC is proud to offer Youth Scholarships (age under 30) for the eighth year running, and the Simon Bell Memorial Scholarship (no age restrictions) for the third consecutive year.
For information on how to apply, and to check the eligibility criteria, see https://www.fmc.org.nz/scholarship/
For any queries, e-mail our executive officer at eo@fmc.org.nz.
Applications close on Friday 14 September 2018.

A General Meeting will be held at the Copthorne Millennium Hotel in Palmerston North on Saturday 27 October 2018. Clubs in lower North Island are urged to send representatives.  All other clubs are very welcome to send their representatives.

The purpose of  the General Meeting will be to confirm FMC's new rules, which were circulated to all clubs in March.

Most of the day will be dedicated to a workshop which aims to discuss tramping opportunities and facilitate volunteer hut and track maintenance work in the Ruahine ,  Tararuas,  Kaweka & Kaimanawa  Forest Park.  The Backcountry Trust will be there to tell you how they can help your club. A detailed programme and information regarding delegates/proxy voting  will be distributed  in the near future. Watch this space!

Welcome back from parental leave to our administrator Rebecca Gray, and many thanks to Rebecca (Becs) Jamieson for her hard work during the last few months.

We also farewell our financial controller Beverley Holder, who has resigned at the end of June to take up full-time teaching. Beverley has kept a close eye on our finances for several years. Welcome to Daniel Parkinson, who has stepped into the role on July 1st.

A whole year after DOC’s decision on the Waitaha hydro scheme was due, DOC sent all submitters a letter outlining a proposal by Westpower, which is meant to address the potential adverse effects of the hydro scheme on recreation (kayaking and tramping) in the Waitaha valley.

It appears that Westpower’s proposed mitigation is nothing more than a bribe, in the form of a $250,000 offer to establish a ‘Westpower Tai Poutini Kayaking Trust’.

Read more

WorkSafe convened a workshop of recreational groups to explore ways of reducing the unintended effects on recreational access that arises from over-cautious or misguided interpretation of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2016.

Executive member David Barnes represented FMC. It appears that WorkSafe is being quite proactive. It intends to have developed some draft policy for consultation in the next couple of months. FMC applauds this initiative.

We’re pleased to announce the prizes for the 2018 competition. Stoves, sleeping mats, subscriptions, footwear, books and more! Visit the competition webpage to see all the details!

Entries are slowly trickling in from clubs and individual supporters, you’ve got until 1 September (Supporters or 15 September (Clubs) to enter and be in to win those great prizes. For all the information about how to enter, see our website.

Our competition has just featured in the July issue of NZ Photographer Magazine.  They are keen to interview the winners from this year's competition: a chance to get even more famous for your top shot!

Starting this month, the best films of the NZ Mountain Film Festival are playing all around the country.

Through FMC’s sponsorship of the festival, any school is able to request a free DVD that can be played at school, in a normal class session. Pass it on to your friends with kids, and any school contacts you have, and get them to read all the information about the FMC School tour online.

By now those skiers amongst us should be well and truly stuck into winter! We hope you’re enoying #atouraweek on FMC Facebook!  If you’ve got any club touring events to go on Wilderlife’s ‘whats on’ guide, or any stories or touring articles for Wilderlife, please send them to our executive officer.

The trust is always keen to hear from those who can spare a few dollars for those who will follow in our footsteps. You can read a background of the trust on Wilderlife, and find out how to contribute on FMC.org.nz.