FMC Sleeping Bags

A range of excellent value, top quality FMC sleeping bags are available... more

FMC Annual General Meeting 2009

FMC will be holding its 78th Annual General Meeting in Wellington.  Details later

FMC Submission (Walking Access Panel)

Walking access to some of New Zealand's backcountry is, and has been for many years, problematic, especially those Crown and Conservation Lands which are landlocked by private land. Walking access to areas of recreational and scenic importance is being eroded rapidly by changing land use, changing attitudes of landholders and changing types of landowners... more

New huts highlight Tararua’s assets

The new (10 bunk standard) Maungahuka Hut has the honour of being the highest hut on the Tararua Range, replacing a hut built adjacent to this site in 1962.

During 26 days of construction, based in the old hut, the builders endured a day of snow, 20 wet and windy days (with winds reaching over 100km an hour on some days) and just six fine days, when they were rewarded for their efforts with stunning Tararua views.

Elder Biv and North Ohau have also been replaced this summer.

See the DOC newsletter   for more details.

Blue Duck Lodge Conservation Project

Blue Duck Lodge, a private conservation project at Whakahoro on the central North Island’s Retaruke River, needs volunteers. The Retaruke, a major tributary of the Whanganui River, is home to 43 whio (blue duck) at the last count. Tasks are surveying whio from kayaks on a 25 km stretch of river, checking trap lines, planting natives to restore river banks and possibly banding birds. The project can use both experienced kayakers and leisurely paddlers.

Volunteers receive free accommodation at nearby Blue Duck Lodge, which also offers walking, tramping, horse trekking, mountain biking and kayaking among 6000 acres of farmland and bush.

Contact Louise Tuin, louise@blueducklodge.co.nz tel. 07-895-6276.

Hollyford Valley Huts Replaced

The Department of Conservation opened two new huts in the Hollyford Valley this month as part of an extensive programme of upgrades on the track.

Over 40 trampers, hunters, guided walks staff and former and current builders gathered on site to celebrate the new facilities and share their memories of this historic area.

The original Alabaster and Hokuri Huts built in the 1960s have been replaced to accommodate the increasing number of users of the track and reduce levels of crowding. Hokuri Hut has moved slightly from the original site as a result of geotechnical advice. Alabaster Hut has been built in the same location and has increased in size from a 12 to a 26 bunk hut. An extensive veranda has been added and two Hybrid toilets have been installed. The Hybrid Toilet System is an advanced human waste treatment unit.

Public Information Leads to Alpine Gecko

Rock climbers and trampers are proving to be valuable sources of information for the Department of Conservation’s alpine gecko survey.

DOC project manager Andrea Goodman said little was known about alpine geckos, a recent 1996 discovery. The survey is finding new populations of the recently discovered alpine species of the gecko Hoplodactylus, previously thought to be limited to forest habitats. During the 2004-5 summer a new population was reported by rock climbers in Fiordland’s Darran Mountains and sightings were made in five other Southland and Otago localities.

The survey is being conducted by DOC and the National Parks & Conservation Foundation with support from Kathmandu. The sponsors have produced a “spotters’ guide” for reporting sightings and T-shirts promoting lizard conservation. This summer the survey extended to most of the South Island alpine zone, where lizard experts have been following up on gecko reports and searching potential alpine gecko habitat.

Two juvenile specimens of alpine gecko were collected in the 1970s, but no sightings of mature animals were made till 1996. Because fewer than 10 geckos were known at each site, and many apparently similar sites lacked populations, concern about their conservation status led to the survey project. The rare geckos live in alpine rock bluffs, boulder piles and screes above 1000m. They vary in colour and pattern from drab brownish grey to bold herring-bone and chevron patterns, to blotches of orange and yellow over the whole animal. All are distinguished from more common gecko varieties by bright orange colouring inside the mouth.

Gecko project manager Andrea Goodman needs help from climbers and trampers. Please report recent or past sightings to 0800-GECKOS or 03 474 6949, including if possible date and time, precise location including grid reference and altitude, habitat description, size, colour and behaviour. Photos are great too!

Feb 06 Andrea Goodman DOC, Invercargill, Tel: +64 3 214 7567 or agoodman@doc.govt.nz

FMC Books

Pat Barrett's True South is now on the FMC book list.

If you ever want a book thats no longer listed, drop a note to FMC book orders guru Arnold Heine at 30 Brook St, Lower Hutt because it may still be available. Arnold wants to clear his shelves, so order now!

Grassy Flat Hut

The new Grassy Flat Hut on the Styx Valley Track (part of the Three Passes trip from the Waimakariri) was completed and opened in late April. It's of standard 10 bunk design like Crow Hut and Trust Poulter.

New Outdoor Safety Database

The National Incident Database managed by N.Z Mountain Safety Council (MSC) won praise from Prime Minister Helen Clark at its launch in May. Now online, the new database is collating outdoor incident data for analysis. Recommendations based on analysis will improve risk management and safety in outdoor programmes. Outdoors New Zealand, Education Outdoors New Zealand and the Ministry of Education have partnered the project, initiated by MSC in 2002. Tramping and mountaineering clubs may register with the database at no charge through www.incidentreport.org.nz. They can then enter incidents such as fatalities, near misses, injuries, illnesses, property damage, or a combination of these. Data on near misses (where an incident is narrowly avoided) have never before been gathered. Clubs retain ownership of their data and can retrieve them for analysis at any time.