FMC to launch 'Remarkable Outdoors' campaign

Outdoor and conservation issues may not decide the next general election, but we will have a good crack at making sure their importance to our collective way of life continues to be widely appreciated.

FMC will be launching our 'Remarkable Outdoors' campaign on the 16th of June in Wellington, and then in Queenstown on the 8th of July. FMC would love to see a strong turn-out from clubs and FMC individual supporters to these events. Come along and join the fun.

Read about your new FMC Executive

The new FMC Executive came into office on the 10th of May. FMC is proudly volunteer led and we remain fortunate to attract an array of talented people committed to the common interest of our outdoor community. FMC welcomes new Executive members: Di Hooper, Nessa Lynch, Neil Silverwood and Meghan Walker. Read about our Executive members here.

Wilderlife - telling stories, passing on skills

Wilderlife is taking off. Read about Erik Bradshaw's ascent of Fastness peak(and an 'easy' route onto the Volta, Emily Forne's ski-tramp on Poseidon Peakand of course FMC Executive member Anthony Behrens and his experiences traversing the spine of the North Island. Wilderlife welcomes contributions that celebrate our outdoor lives.

Wilderlife will also seek to assist people developing their outdoor skills and judgement. Whether that is through learning from others mistakes – our Backcountry Accidents column, learning about snow and ice, or tying knots

FMC Photo Competition 2017

The annual FMC Photo Competition is back for the eighth year running, this time bigger and better than before.

We have extended this years competition to FMC individual supporters. Supporters will be regarded as belonging to one club, with their entries judged by an independent panel. The best two from each category will go forward to be judged with the other finalists.

Closing date for individual supporters is 1 September 2017 and for clubs is 15 September 2017.

Entries are made via cloud file transfer service. See: www.fmc.org.nz/photocompetition for more information, or contact photocomp@fmc.org.nz if you have any further questions.

Great news for Battle for our Birds and Volunteers

FMC congratulates the government for their recent budget announcements. There are gutsy projects worthy of praise, including The Battle for our Birds campaign and wilding conifer control. Conservation, at least on public conservation land, is not a partisan issue in New Zealand. Long may it stay that way. Conservation successes depend on long-term, across-the-board, political support.

FMC is cautiously optimistic about extra funding given to DOC for tourism. This package, has some clear positives in addressing infrastructure issues - including roads, utilities, visitor centres - and in a small increase to DOC's operating budget.

Two new Great Walks are planned, as well as the marketing of a network of Great Short Walks and Great Day Walks. FMC will be working with DOC to do the best we can to ensure that this investment is put into places where it encourages greater local participation and respects existing recreation opportunities.

Local outdoor clubs have expressed support for the first specific initiative announced, an upgrade of the Pouakai crossing (to be renamed Taranaki crossing). FMC is looking forward to seeing the details of this upgrade through what is a unique and fragile environment. DOC must demonstrate that it has learnt from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing debacle.

FMC, along with our partners Trailfund NZ and NZDA, are also pleased that the Outdoor Recreation Consortium has been guaranteed another two years of funding. This reflects the great work done by backcountry volunteers over the last two years.

FMC Advocacy

FMC continues to be active across the country, even while we wait for the outcome of issues, such as the Waitaha, Waitaia and Ruahine Forest Park land swap. Recent issues include:

Lake Howden Shelter: FMC does not believe a proposed private shelter for guided walkers on the shores of the Routeburn's Lake Howden is appropriate. Because the controversial growth of guided walkers has put pressure on the public hut a shelter is probably needed, but it should be more discretely located. FMC is working with DOC and Ultimate Hikes to find a more appropriate location for this proposed shelter.

Hunter Valley access: FMC is considering legal advice received regarding the Overseas Investment Office decision to approve the sale of Hunter Valley Station to American entertainer Matt Lauer, with a sub-lease to the existing lessees. The issue was perhaps best presented in this clip on TVNZ

Oparara Basin: FMC has worked hard to give sunlight to this proposed development - which seeks to grow visitor numbers by 500% - before the die is cast. Places like the Oparara Basin, with a vulnerable natural heritage, should not be treated like commodities. They should be conserved. Listen to Neil Silverwood and Peter Wilson speaking on RNZ.

Turoa to Ohakune Track: DOC is seeking submissions regarding a review of the Tongariro National Park Management Plan to enable the creation of three new multi-use tracks near Ohakune.

FMC signalled support for the lower level tracks which link Horipito and Ohakune creating a loop with the Ohakune Coach road, but expressed concern and requested further information on the proposed Turoa to Ohakune track.Click here for the feasibility studies released under the Official Information Act

FMC still believes that the promoters of this track are tying themselves in knots. They have a decision to make: advocate for a multi-use/multi directional track with significantly more environment effects and cost in construction and maintenance, or admit that a track on the current alignment will be overwhelmingly used as a shuttle ride for intermediate level mountain-bikers with other users displaced.

Grey District Council - Native Logging Proposals: FMC has submitted against the disappointing idea to resume native logging in council owned reserves on the West Coast. The proposal/veiled threat, which came hand in hand with a suggestion of a trade-off for conservation land, should serve as a warning for those, including the New Zealand Conservation Authority, advocating increased swapping of public conservation land. A 'net conservation benefit' approach to public conservation land tenure is grounded in the incremental destruction of our natural heritage. It is deeply concerning to FMC that our peak conservation body - the NZ Conservation Authority - has expressed support for the concept of net conservation benefit.

Fundraising and Social Opportunity

FMC has partnered with the New Zealand Mountain Film and Book Festival to do our bit to support the great work that this organisation does promoting outdoor recreation and encouraging New Zealand outdoor film-makers. Watch-out for this years festival programme, to be revealed in early June.

FMC would like to encourage clubs, and other groups to consider becoming a host of their National Tour. National tour hosts have the opportunity to organise public showings and also to take a specially curated film selection to interested local schools. FMC hopes that this may prove to be an opportunity for some clubs to build-up relationships with schools in their community.

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