SAVE FIORDLAND overwhelmed by commitment of Federated Mountain Clubs, a nationwide recognition of the issues at stake

In accepting a pledge of $15,000 from Federated Mountain Clubs today, Save Fiordland Chairperson, Daphne Taylor, said that the group was ‘absolutely stoked’ and wants to thank each individual member of FMC. “To have a national body such as Federated Mountain Clubs recognising the crucial issues under attack with the processing of these two concession applications and committing to fight with us, is a very significant step forward in our campaign. The issues at stake are national ones; the precedents being set need to concern us all. This pledge states that plainly.”

New Zealanders committed to its special wilderness areas have, in good faith, put a lot of thought and time into helping develop the management documents that govern how we use our public conservation land. Ms Taylor said that the Minister of Conservation and her department must take heed of the intent of such legislation wherever it is applied in New Zealand.

As Save Fiordland moves further in to focusing on the legislation and the flaws in its application in the instance of these two proposals, such support as pledged by FMC is essential, Ms Taylor said. “We intend to prove the worth of such a significant commitment from so many New Zealanders.”

Back in the early 90s, Federated Mountain Clubs were directly involved in establishing the World Heritage area of Te Wahipounamu, including the Snowdon Forest area which will be affected by the monorail proposal. Ms Taylor felt that it was particularly fitting that the next generation of FMC are committing to the campaign to retain that World heritage status, now under threat by the two proposals.