December 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the second newsletter from the Tūpiki Trust. As someone we know who has a real passion for climbing, we thought you would be interested in who we are and what we have been up to. We hope you find it of interest and that you will reply to us at the end of this Newsletter, so that we can keep you up-to-date in the future.
THOUGHTS FROM THE TŪPIKI TRUST CHAIR.
Tūpiki Trust has completed its first year of activity and we are proud of what has been achieved in our startup year. Our first meeting was held on 23 September 2021, the Trust obtained charitable status in January 2022 and, in addition to those milestones, are greatest successes have come from the partnerships we have been able to create in a few months. From the growth of a strong relationship with the New Zealand Alpine Club, through establishment of many professional support networks, to engagement with many, many groups and individuals passionate about climbing, this has been a year of success. Here is an overview of recent events and some of the activities of the trust.
AGM
Tūpiki Trust held its first Annual General Meeting on 18 October at Home of Mountaineering in Christchurch. The Trust annual report and financial statements for the Financial Year ending 30 June 2022 were presented and they are available on the Tūpiki Trust website. Ross Cullen was reappointed as chair of the trust for a further year.
ASPIRING HUT RENOVATION PROJECT
Thanks to the generosity of many donors the $1.1 million Aspiring Hut renovation project is well underway. Funding for this NZAC project is being provided by Backcountry Trust CC54962, NZAC, Tūpiki Trust, Otago Community Trust, individual donors and others. Tūpiki Trust is supporting this project via a grant of $200,000 with funds provided from the estate of John Nankervis and by receiving donations tagged to the Aspiring Hut renovation project.
Site work on Aspiring Hut renovation project commenced on Monday 5 September when workers arrived to set up the construction site, accommodation for the workers, perimeter fencing, signage. The first ten weeks of the project have seen rapid progress, walls removed while the roof was initially retained, interior gutted, boxing and steel reinforcing placed in position, concrete flown up valley and poured during two very busy days, roof removed, Cross Laminated Timber flooring and walls installed. Weather has generally been helpful and after a delay caused by the need to alter the steel reinforcing the project team have made steady progress. The project is on track to have construction completed before Christmas 2022. Fitout work, landscaping and other tasks will be completed in January, official opening and for users likely in February 2023.
You can help by making a contribution to this very worthwhile project. In addition to knowing you have helped keep this iconic part of climbing history operational, any donation over $5 does entitle you to a tax refund, and an appropriate tax receipt will be issued – along with our grateful thanks. There are three simple ways you can help . .
1. Donate by bank transfer directly to the Tūpiki Trust account: Westpac 03-1599-0129306-000 . When you set up the payment, please put your name in the Particulars box and Aspiring in the Reference field.
Once you have made the deposit, please email admin@tupikitrust.org.nz with your full name and amount donated so that we can return a tax receipt to you (these details aren’t available on bank transfers).
2. Donate directly via the Tūpiki Trust Website here. This link takes you to our secure Donation button, where payments to the project can made. Remember to note that your donation is to the Aspiring Hut project and please note that all donations made by Stripe incur a 3% processing fee which will be deduced from your donation.
3. Spread the word. Please share the project with friends, family and businesses. We encourage any businesses wishing to sponsor the project to contact the NZAC directly. The more people that know of the project the better.
LEANING LODGE PROJECT
Tūpiki Trust was pleased to announce in October that it has made a grant of $25,000 to Leaning Lodge Trust CC31508 to support rebuild of Leaning Lodge near Middlemarch on the Rock and Pillar Range. Middlemarch is just over one hour’s drive from Dunedin and the lodge is a 2–3-hour uphill walk. Leaning Lodge sits just below the ridge of Pātearoa, the Rock and Pillar Range, in a starkly dramatic environment of hulking schist tors and remarkable alpine flora adapted to a wind-swept mix of sun, snow, mist and rain.
Leaning Lodge has been a popular destination since it was built by the Otago Ski Club in 1958. Reduced snowfall meant regular down-hill skiing activities ceased, but trampers, climbers and increasingly, mountain bikers and MTB tourers make regular use of the hut’s shelter. A 2012 attempt at refurbishment did not meet building code requirements, so the current structure is closed to the public, just as demand for close, accessible wilderness huts is rapidly rising. Leaning Lodge Trust’s aim is to replace the existing structure with a code compliant, modern hut that meets both DOC’s back-country-hut standards. It will comprise an entrance foyer, kitchen and dining facilities, 10 bunks and a deck looking over the Strath Taieri valley far below. Leaning Lodge Trust has gained strong community support for the project and has almost raised sufficient funds to meet the expected project cost of $240,000
SOUTHERN LAKES SANCTUARY, YOUNG VALLEY PROJECT
Tūpiki Trust has agreed to fund a biodiversity project in the Young Valley, Makarora region. The Young Valley project is a part of a major Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust Conservation project http://southernlakessanctuary.org.nz. The project enables: conservation planning, site-monitoring, trap network expansion, catch monitoring, data analysis, indigenous biodiversity assessment, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders. The Tūpiki Trust will contribute $122,935.
Tupiki Trust deed lists its charitable purposes and includes … ‘Promote conservation of climbing spaces, and the maintenance and improvement of the ecological status of climbing spaces, including through weed and pest control and other conservation projects, and by providing a forum for discussing sustainability of climbing activities.’
The Tūpiki Trust funded project lies in the upper Young Valley within the Makarora catchment and will expand on existing trapping efforts in the area. The Young Valley has been chosen as a key site for suppression, because of its high potential biodiversity and suitable habitat for numerous native species (rock wren, whio, mohua, kea), defensible lines (i.e., high ridges and rivers), existing trapping infrastructure, and the potential for eventual predator elimination and protection of an iconic mountain landscape within the Southern Alps.
The Southern Lakes Sanctuary (SLS) is a community-led Trust focussed on conserving the natural taonga of the catchments of lakes Wānaka and Whakatipu, where there are approximately 30 native species threatened with extinction. The Southern Lakes Sanctuary project arose from a DOC initiative in 2017, to coordinate the efforts of local conservation groups and develop a landscape scale predator control programme. SLS Trust (CC59200) was officially launched in 2021 with $2.986 million of initial funding from DOC’s Jobs for Nature program. The Sanctuary currently operates as a consortium of six large conservation groups, representing about 87 community volunteer led projects. Few projects in Aotearoa encompass such wide community engagement, across such an extensive and significant landscape.
The long-term vision of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary is to see flourishing native biodiversity at a landscape scale across the region. The natural barriers of the Southern Alps, and the lakes and rivers of the region, will assist in moving towards predator elimination within selected sites, thereby contributing to a Predator Free New Zealand. The initial focus is the suppression of predators to help native species which amplifies the mahi being done by SLS consortium groups. The Tūpiki Trust is particularly aware of the need to have this important biodiversity area managed to be ready for more effective predator management tools as predator control technology advances.
'Tūpiki Trust welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust in funding the Young Valley expansion project. This will have a significant impact on native biodiversity in this stunning part of the Southern Alps'
Many mountaineers will recall that John Nankervis, the founding Chair of Tupiki Trust, suffered a severe fall in 2013 in the Young Valley and died January 11th this year.
MATURE MOUNTAINEERS SECOND AUCKLAND EVENT
The second Auckland Mature Mountaineers event attracted two dozen attendees to gather, share stories, enjoy the atmosphere at Epsom Community Centre. Tūpiki Trust member Geoff Gabites presentation engaged everyone with his focus on outdoor gear and its role supporting the development of New Zealand climbing in the 1960’s and 70s.
The Auckland Mature Mountaineers events look set to continue with quarterly events in 2023. As well, Wellington Mature Mountaineers have ben surveyed to elicit their interest in and preferences for meetings in the capital. Watch out for news on Wellington events commencing in 2023.
FIRST OTAGO MATURE MOUNTAINERS WILL LAUNCH PETE STRANG’S BOOK
It is fitting that the launch of Otago stalwart Peter Strang’s book on Thursday, 19 January 2023 has led to the first meeting of Mature Mountaineers in Dunedin. Mountain Dreaming is a collection of poetry inspired by mountains, but also by life and its conundrums and its unanswered questions. The poems were written by Peter Strang over many years spent in and around high places in Aotearoa, and also further abroad.
Riley Smith, a graphic design student from Ōtepoti, approached Peter after hearing him read some of these poems at a New Zealand Alpine Club monthly meeting. Over the next year, Riley collated these poems and designed this publication and the surrounding content. The book will be available for purchase at the event, or in a few other ways after the launch. All of the proceeds are going to the Tūpiki Trust.
The launch will begin at 6pm, with a kōrero from the author and designer at around 7. Drinks will be available from the bar, and nibbles will be provided. Please RSVP to the Facebook events page https://www.facebook.com/events/538746854931062 as space is limited for what it sure to be a popular event.
SALE OF NANK’S BOOKS
John Nankervis was an avid book purchaser and at his death in 2021 he had about 6000 books in his collection. The titles range widely over mountaineering, exploration, travel, biography, conservation of wild places. Nank gifted the collection to Dave Bamford who has worked industriously with Colin Monteath and several friends to sort the books for gifting to several organisations including Outdoor Pursuits Centre, NZAC reference library, Tararua Tramping Club. Colin Monteath has written about the collection and the books for sale online.
Together with Dave Bamford, it was a privilege to spend six days in August at Nank's Wellington home (he had not been there for nine years since his climbing accident) where we sorted his extensive library, (some 6000 books), for redistribution and sale.
Visiting his home again after many years was a rare glimpse into a remarkable life - one of utter commitment and passion for mountaineering, skiing, expedition travel & exploration, mountain history and culture (plus the Spanish language - 7 boxes of Spanish books were given to his tutor). Nank bought books in multiple languages from all over the world over decades. Quite a few had tags throughout, marking maps, climbs or regions that he planned to visit. His research was meticulous, leading to a diverse expedition career unparalleled in New Zealand.
900 items were freighted to Barking Mad Books in Christchurch. In due course, a selection of books will go to the NZAC reference library. The rest will be sold via the Barking Mad Ex libris John Nankervis gallery.
All books in the John Nankervis Collection contain his bookplate featuring a Himalayan sketch by Bip Pares (artist for Eric Shipton books).
Link to Barking Mad Books' Ex libris John Nankervis gallery
Link to Barking Mad Books' SOLD Ex libris John Nankervis gallery
Proceeds from the sale of Nank's books will go to Tūpiki Trust – thank you Dave and Colin!
WOULD YOU LIKE TŪPIKI TRUST UDPATES
If you would like to be kept up to date with developments at the Tūpiki Trust, just email us at admin@tupikitrust.org.nz to be added to our mailing list. We promise not to swamp your inbox with inappropriate SPAM, and we won’t sell or give your email address to anyone else, but we would like to keep your informed as we go through this first year of growth.
CONTACT DETAILS
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust
P O Box 786
Christchurch
Email: admin@tupikitrust.org.nz Website: www.tupikitrust.org.nz
The Tūpiki Trustees
Patron: Margaret Fyfe
Ross Cullen - Chair 021 294 6819, ross.cullen@lincoln.ac.nz
Dave Bamford 027 457 0313, dave@davebamford.co.nz
Geoff Gabites 029 231 0434, geoff@cyclejourneys.co.nz
Clare Kearney 0277387629 cm.kearney7@gmail.com
Lindsay Smith 027 404 8911, challispoint@gmail.com