Newsletter Summer 2024
We hope that many of you are beginning 2024 out and about enjoying Aotearoa’s mountains, crags and climbing areas and the NZAC Tupiki Trust is delighted to be able to continue our support for the endeavours that so many of us are passionate about. So, while you are making the most of the summer, we do suggest that you take a moment to consider contributing to the work of the Trust.
Later in this newsletter we call for applications for our March 2024 funding round and you may be able to suggest a project we can fund which will enhance the New Zealand’s climbing community or provide care and maintenance of our climbing areas. We have also included a brief note, explaining the options available for you to join the growing number of people providing financial support for the work the Trust does on your behalf.
Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Upper Young Valley project update.
You may ask why is the Tūpiki Trust giving money to the Southern Lakes Sanctuary predator control programme? “Aren’t you there to support climbing?” Established in 2021, the Tūpiki Trust has two aims at our core – to support climbing in all its forms and to support the care of our climbing areas. The Trustees are aware that many millions of dollars are being pumped into predator control throughout Aotearoa, but the Upper Young Valley project, proposed by the respected Southern Lakes Sanctury Trust, seemed to be a little different.
The aim of their project wasn’t just to remove predators, it was to gain sound, science-based data on what predator control actions actually work long term and which actions deliver the best outcome for each of the species we treasure in the alpine environment, such as whio, rock wren and mohua. For those of you who knew the Tūpiki Trust’s founding chair John Nankervis, you will understand the appeal of this project; a focus on long term benefits in a part of New Zealand which was so important to Nank.
And that is why the Tūpiki Trust supported the Southern Lakes Sanctuary’s Makarora Valley project. Working predominantly in the upper Young Valley, they are establishing a monitoring programme which will determine the predator management for the area including trap types, density, and areas for deployment and will also, in time, show effectiveness of their actions.
BIODIVERSITY MONITORING – APRIL 2023
A site visit was completed in the upper north branch of the Young Valley in April 2023. The assessment was completed by two Southern Lakes Sanctuary biodiversity staff and two Forest and Bird long-time volunteers. The study area had very limited previous monitoring and an extensive habitat assessment was completed. Focus was on suitable habitat for rock wren, mohua, whio, bats and herptiles. Good rock wren habitat, four whio, six mohua and four kakariki were noted.
WHIO SURVEYS – OCTOBER 2023
Baseline whio surveys were completed in the Leven and Ore streams, waterfall creek (upper north Young), Stag Creek, south Young and Blue River, over October 30th and 31st 2023.
A team of four experienced practitioners and their dogs, three Southern Lakes Sanctuary staff and two long-time Forest and Bird volunteers completed the surveys. In addition, any other native species of note were recorded, and habitat assessments were completed. A total of 11 Whio were observed, with six of the birds comprising three pairs and five other individuals.
PREDATOR CONTROL WORK
To date the following traps have been installed:
· 20 x DOC 200 kea proof traps in the upper south branch of the Young River for rock wren protection.
· 30 x double rat traps in the north branch of the Young River for mohua protection due to the beech mast and high rat numbers experienced this spring.
· 20 x DOC 200 kea proof traps in the north branch of the Young River for mohua and forest bird protection. Based on monitoring data the key area for trapping this season (summer 2023) is the Leven Stream with the potential for trapping in Ore Stream.
Duncan Ritchie checking the upper Young Valley trap lines. (photo supplied)
MONITORING PLAN – 2023/2024
The following monitoring is planned for the 2023/2024 summer/autumn season:
· Additional who surveys will be planned for January/February 2024 to observe ducklings that are about to fledge. This will be completed by handlers and conservation dogs.
· eDNA monitoring of Leven, Ore, upper north branch of Young and potentially Stag Creek.
· targeted bird surveys: Southern Lakes Sanctuary staff will complete the annual mohua transect surveys in the north Young Valley (5 transects that were established by DOC).
· additional rock wren / kea surveys in the upper basins of either the Leven, Ore, Stag, south or north branch of the Young.
· bat surveys with use of acoustic recorders.
As supporters of this project, the Tūpiki Trust will keep you up-to-date with the project over the coming years but if you want more detailed information, please visit the SLS webpage https://southernlakessanctuary.org.nz/
March 2024 Grant Funding Round
Applications are now open for the NZAC Tūpiki Trust’s fifth funding round, with applications closing on 1 March 2024. If you have a project which will make a long term difference to climbing in Aotearoa, then please take a few moments to read the application requirements on our webpage - https://tupikitrust.org.nz/apply-for-a-grant
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust was launched in June 2022 and several lessons have been learned since our first grants in 2022 and we believe it may be useful if we share those lessons:
The grant application form states that Tūpiki Trust is a charity whose activities are guided by its trust deed. Applicants need to carefully read the relevant parts of Tūpiki Trust deed to see if their proposed project will contribute to the trust’s objectives.
Please talk to a Tūpiki Trust board member if you are unsure if your proposed project will contribute to the trust’s objectives.
Tūpiki Trust funds projects. A project has three key features: project start and end dates; they produce specific outputs; they are not Business As Usual activities. Ongoing programmes are not projects.
Pilot projects can be supported. Applicant organisations may later decide to continue the activity but continuation will not qualify as a project that Tūpiki Trust can support.
Evaluation of many grant applications requires conversation with applicants, sometimes face to face meetings and site visits so we can better understand your project. Those discussions take time to organise and complete. Evaluation of complex project applications can take up to three months to complete.
Contact details must be included in applications so we can communicate with you.
Tūpiki Trust provides support but does not fully fund projects, or become the lead party in these projects. Applicants will need to contribute approximately 50% of funding themselves. A Tūpiki Trust grant may provide the leverage you need to obtain funding from other sources.
We recognize and applaud early investment of effort by applicants preparing the way for a new project, including volunteer input. Records of preceding staff and volunteer input and estimates of volunteer input executing the project will be helpful when we evaluate your application.
Tūpiki Trust is a charitable organisation. It is not GST registered. Applications must state GST inclusive cost to deliver projects.
Payment schedules for successful applications will be finalised by discussion. Bank transfers will occur after the first day of any month.
Monitoring of projects is essential. We welcome project updates and photos that can be included in Tūpiki Trust newsletters and in our webpage news items. A final report must be provided to us after your project is complete.
Our grant application form was updated in November 2023 and is available on the Tūpiki Trust webpage. The revised application form must be used in all applications after November 2023.
Remember, you can make an application to the Trust at any time, and these will be considered at our meetings in April and October each year.
First ever Wanaka Crag Fest
With the help of Tūpiki Trust, the New Zealand Alpine Club and Wānaka Climbing Club are pleased to announce the first edition of Wānaka Crag Fest, a sustainable and inclusive rock-climbing event which promotes community and best practice. Enjoy climbing with new and old friends, learn new skills at the climbing clinics, and enjoy the evenings with events and social gatherings.
The festival aims to bring together NZ’s climbing community, to inspire them to get out and enjoy climbing, upskill and connect, in one of NZ’s mecca climbing areas. To find out more or see the full programme, visit www.alpineclub.org.nz/event/cragfest.
Hillary Outdoors Tertiary Climbing Project.
Since our last report, work has raced ahead with this project and the team have made significant progress on the wall construction and finishing. The wall itself has been installed and painted, top rope and wall anchors are in place and testing is well underway. Thanks to the support of the Tūpiki Trust, the team at Hillary Outdoors are excited to have this fantastic facility available for their 2024 intake of tertiary students.
A recent project report to Tūpiki Trust stated, “Thank you for supporting us to continue to be a leading NZ Outdoor Education Centre that offers relevant and authentic opportunities for learning and leadership, empowering people to do extraordinary things.”
The Tupiki Trustees are looking forward to our visit to this exciting facility when we attend the official opening in February and we will bring you a full report in our next newsletter, including more detailed information on how the wall is being used to create the next generation of climbers.
Your opportunity to support the Tūpiki Trust
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust is able to make a difference thanks to the generosity of our donors and we welcome opportunities to talk to potential supporters about the options for making a donation, bequest, or sponsorship arrangement. Our founding principles recognise the need to care for any funds entrusted to us and the Board of Trustees are committed to sound financial management, accurate accounting and timely reporting of our investments. We are also committed to financial prudence and actively manage our operational costs so that they do not exceed 5% of the grants made in any year.
The Trust also offers donors the flexibility that meets your needs; whether as a one-off donation, a regular contribution or a bequest. We also welcome opportunities to discuss focused gifts – those tied to a specific current or future project. As the Trust is a registered charity, your donation or bequest may qualify you for a taxation rebate.
Making a donation. Simply visit our website at www.tupikitrust.org.nz and click on the “Donate” button and complete the form – which gives you an opportunity to tell us if you have a preference for where the money will be spent. But please be aware, bank transfer charges will deduct almost 6% from your donation – although a tax receipt will be sent to you for the entire amount donated.
If you would prefer to donate the full amount, you can make a deposit to the bank account shown on the “Donate” page and email your details and any special requests for the use of your gift to admin@tupikitrust.org.nz and we will email your receipt and a letter of acknowledgement to you.
Making a bequest. Bequests are most welcome and if you would like to include a provision in your will, we do suggest you discuss this with your solicitor or financial advisor who can suggest the type of bequest which would be meet your needs, as there are a number of options.
The general wording used in a will to give effect to a bequest is:
“I give free of all duties to The NZAC Tūpiki Trust [the sum of $(specify)] or [the residue of my estate] or [(specify)% of the residue of my estate] or [my (specify)] to be used and applied for the general purposes of the Trust”.
We realise that including a provision in your will can be complex, and the Trust may be able to offer financial assistance towards the cost of professional advice should that be needed. Please contact the Tūpiki Trust Administrator or one of the Trustees who will be able to discuss this with you.
Via ferrata dummy run underway
With $30,000 of funding from the Tūpiki Trust swelling their existing fund raising, Via Ferrata Aotearoa have begun work on their project at Takaka Hill. With permission from the QEII Trust, Luis and Till Middelhauve started to work on a dummy route before Christmas in the area that that they are aiming to build their publicly accessible via ferrata. Using fencing wire, they made dummy anchors to stick into 3 mm drill holes and then connected the anchors with yellow line to visualise the picked route.
This pre-testing effort gives them the confidence to work out what anchors, cables and other items they need to order and to give other people a chance to advise on potential route improvements before building "the real thing".
Projects supported by Tūpiki Trust to date 2022 and 2023
As we end the year, the NZAC Tupiki Trust presents the running total of projects we have supported since our first grants round in March 2022. If you would like to contribute to the funding of future projects, or have a project which would benefit from our support, please read the information held on this website – www.tupikitrust.org.nz
NZAC Aspiring Hut rebuild $372,500.38
Leaning Lodge Trust Leaning Lodge rebuild $25,000.00
Southern Lakes Sanctuary Young Valley trap extension $122,935.00
NZMFF Trust Adventure Writers workshop $1,000.00
Heritage Hokitika Reprint Mr Explorer Douglas $3,450.00
Castledowns rebolting Castledowns rebolting $4,569.17
Backcountry Trust South Huxley Bivvy refurbishment $8,000.00
NZAC www.climbnz upgrade $30,000.00
NZAC Webshop development $10,000.00
Paul Maxim Aotearoa 25 research $10,000.00
NZAC Human Waste Solutions $62,121.00
Aspiring Biodiversity Trust Alpine data collection $16,635.00
Hillary Outdoors Climbing wall, classroom and gear $250,539.26
NZAC Extend pest control Homer area $4,500.00
NZAC Lead removal Cascade and Elcho huts $6,000.00
Andy Buchanan Publish Panorama Peaks $5,000.00
Lyn McKinnon Publish Invincible Spirit $5,000.00
Whenua Iti Outdoors Climbing wall feasibility study $2,500.00
Backcountry Trust Fenella Hut upgrade $6,000.00
Shaun Barnett Research for Wild Notes $10,000.00
Backcountry Trust Almer Hut upgrade $19,000.00
Backcountry Trust Lockwood Shelter re-roof $15,000.00
Wakatipu LandSAR Tiaki Piki: Climber care outer clothing $11,500.00
NZAC Land Purchase Porter Lodge $100,000.00
NZAC Summer Climbing Festival $10,000.00
Via Ferrata Aotearoa Create via ferrata, Takaka Hill $30,000.00
Wanaka Climbing Club Crag access and enhancement $25,147.58
Paul Maxim New edition, Bold beyond Belief $2000.00
Total Grants 2022-2023 $1,168,397.39
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust
P O Box 786,
Christchurch
03 377 7595