FMC Executive Election 2022

 

This year an election is required for the position of President

The poll is conducted by email.  Every club is urged to exercise its right to vote. Votes must be sent to the returning officer Danilo Hegg eo@fmc.org.nz no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 18 May 2022.

The following documents have been mailed to clubs and can be downloaded here:

Two candidates are running for the position of President. These are, in alphabetical order by first name: Neil Silverwood (member of NZAC Canterbury / Westland Section, NZ Speleological Society, NZ Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, NZ Canyoning Association, West Coast Alpine Club and PRANZ) and Robin McNeill (member of NZAC Southland Section and Southland Tramping Club). Information about each candidate follows below.

Neil Silverwood

I am proud to have served FMC as Vice President through a time of significant growth. Working closely with outgoing president Jan Finlayson, I have been part of increasing FMC membership to a record 22,000 in 100 diverse clubs. We are truly New Zealand’s leading recreation organisation.

My vision for FMC is that we must remain a strongly effective and respected high-level advocate for recreation and the backcountry – and we must continue to accrue successes, despite growing threats to our wild lands.

A life-long tramper, climber, caver, kayaker, packrafter, skier, and now paragliding pilot, I belong to several FMC member clubs.

I have produced an award winning book, Caves, written DOC karst management plans, and was New Zealand Geographic’s 2017 Photographer of the Year. I have served on a conservation board and have a strong working understanding of conservation law. 

I believe it’s important to lead with tact, courage, and integrity. I will lead by example and invest the time and energy needed to take FMC forward.

I will stand up for public access and for the land’s values, in line with FMC’s constitution. I will nourish FMC’s flaxroots support for clubs. I will work to gain best possible outcomes in the stewardship land review. After winning the High Court case protecting the Paparoa National Park’s natural quiet and conservation planning’s integrity, I will continue to lead FMC’s legal challenge to the proposed Griffin Creek hydro scheme.

I look forward to working with Allan Brent, FMC’s newly appointed Vice President.

Please support me to be FMC’s next president.

 

Robin McNeill MNZM

FMC must always be the considered, respected voice of outdoor recreationalists that is listened to by those who matter. Yes, we must advocate for the conservation values of the land we enjoy, but our point of view always must be that of our member clubs—trampers, skiers, mountaineers, canyoners, kayakers and others. I am steadfast in advocating for our members first and foremost. 

Diplomacy and building trust are essential. More than ever, we need to talk softly to Wellington. Even though we do carry a big stick, rebuilding relationships is more fruitful than confrontation or threatening litigation, but when pressed we should not be afraid to use the full range of tools available. 

We have a highly talented FMC Executive with an enviable geographic range and institutional memory that could and should usefully take on more work. Building further capacity and capability in the Executive is important. So is succession planning: I urge you to support Allan Brent as Vice-President with view to him taking over from me in due course.

We recreationalists have challenges ahead, but I view them as opportunities. I’m excited by them. We can and we must gently and firmly take a lead on the Stewardship Land review, the Milford Sound/Piopiotahi reset, progress our Remarkables National Park proposal, accommodate co-governance, and safeguard our values in the new National Park Plans and proposed legislative changes. 

And we must always nurture and support our clubs!

Ten clubs have nominated me to provide a strong mandate for these values.

Thank you for your support.