Newsletter Winter 2024
Tūpiki Trust Backs Community Effort
Since Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust signed an MoU with the Pakeho landowners, ACAT’s Chris Hailey has been leading an epic community effort to get the crag ready for re-opening after winter.
The main job has been re-bolting the existing routes with glue-in 316-grade stainless steel eye-bolts, so ACAT can assure the landowners that all climbs have been safety-checked and the hardware complies with the best-practice NZAC Bolting Philosophy and Standards.
This has been a massive job across dozens of routes, requiring over 500 bolts and anchors, 60m of chain safety lines, and many tubes of glue, all at an expected cost of around $15,000. The NZAC Tūpiki Trust is proud to have been able to contribute $10,000 towards the cash cost and we acknowledge the other funding ACAT has raised, along with the many hundreds of hours of volunteer work put in to make this project a reality.
ACAT’s Chris Hailey - leading the team effort on Pakeho Crag
ACAT has been working hard behind the scenes to find funding and hardware to keep Chris and the crew well-stocked! The re-bolting ethos has been to keep the routes true to their original nature with no ‘retro-bolting’. The plan is to install clippable anchors on the easier routes, in line with the original developers’ vision of a user-friendly crag suitable for beginner/intermediate climbers and instruction groups. These will be attached with a maillon for easy replacement if they wear out. The harder routes will be equipped with rap rings.
Currently they are sitting on 90% completion of all original areas with just the Oyster block left to drill + glue and the Leaning Tower left to glue, having already been drilled by the team of experienced developers. ACAT also have two new areas under construction and some exciting new lines to release when they have that final shipment of hardware installed. Their goal is to open everything together so they can orientate climbers with all the new information on open days, through signage, photos and videos. ACAT will also be uploading all information to theCrag and ClimbNZ websites once they are ready to re-open, and doing away with the current guide book as it is going to be out of date.
There are still some key pieces of work to complete before the crag can re-open, including installing the anchors as Chris discussed, installing signage and other infrastructure, and finalising a registration and donation system – so ACAT can manage the crag on behalf of the landowners and meet the terms of the MOU.
ACAT is aiming to have everything done in time for a Springtime opening. Until then, the crag remains CLOSED. Thanks for your patience and watch their Facebook page for further updates.
Tūpiki funding for MSC videos
Many of you will be aware of the highly successful NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) range of videos, and Tūpiki Trust is delighted to be helping with the exciting new series of Avalanche Safety videos currently in production and due out in 2025.
Jamie Robertson out in the Arrowsmith Range being filmed by the team from Walsh and Beck – Paula Hellyer, Iain Frengley, Alex Lovell-Smith
The series of 23 videos will equip climbers and other backcountry alpine enthusiasts, with essential knowledge to understand the NZ Avalanche Advisory regional forecasts and to assist in safely navigating New Zealand’s challenging alpine terrain. This new initiative will contribute to a growing library of free avalanche awareness videos produced by MSC.
Filmed on location in the mountains surrounding Methven by creative agency Walsh & Beck, the videos are fronted by MSC Alpine Partnerships Advisor Bianca Bratton, and avalanche forecasters Jim Young and Jamie Robertson. Thanks to a high-pressure system across the mountains, the project got off to a great start with a hugely successful week of filming earlier in July.
The team worked really well together and put in some long days both in the mountains and back in the office collating footage and storyboards, then planning the logistics for the following days.
In her update to the Tūpiki Trust, Bianca was thrilled to have been able to tick off around 85% of the required footage, with the remaining items, such as different avalanche types or weather conditions that weren’t present during the week they were in Methven, to be collected over the course of this winter.
Post-production is now underway, with the series to be launched in winter 2025
Jim Young, preparing a Rutschblock teas to show an example of a trigger.
September Grant Applications close soon
This newsletter updates progress on just a few of the 42 projects the NZAC Tūpiki Trust has supported since its inception just three years ago, and we are always keen to hear from those who need funding for a project to enhance climbing or the care of the climbing environment in Aotearoa.
Applications are now open for the NZAC Tūpiki Trust’s sixth funding round, with applications closing on 1 September 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 or if you are requesting significant funding.
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 expect 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. Applications received after the 1 September 2024 deadline will be considered in our March 2025 Grants Round
Tūpiki welcomes Martin Hunter
Martin (or Marty as he is often referred to) has recently joined the NZAC Tūpiki Trust Board, bringing climbing, business and governance experience to the team.
Marty Hunter joins Tūpiki Trust Board
He has climbed in New Zealand and has been a member of a number of expeditions to Himalayan peaks in Nepal, India, and Tibet, including a first ascent of Syao Kang in the Kangchenjunga region in Eastern Nepal. He has climbed in Alaska, Peru and Europe, making the most of a seven year stint living in the UK.
His professional background is in law, and he has held a variety of executive roles in financial services companies including banking, risk management, HR, funds management, strategy and operations.
He has a particular interest in the role that the outdoors and adventure play in the education and development of young people. He is a trustee of Hillary Outdoors and has been a member of the NZAC for many years, starting in the Wellington section and now in Auckland.
Marty replaces Lindsay Smith, who has resigned his position as a Tupiki Trustee to temporarily take up the role of Trust Administrator.
Your support for 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.
New admin for NZAC Tupiki Trust
For the last two years, the staff at the New Zealand Alpine Club have provided administration to the Tūpiki Trust under contract. But with 42 projects under action at present, the Trust has decided to move to a new way of managing our services.
Thanks to the generous support of the John Nankervis Estate, the NZAC Tūpiki Trust has been provided with sufficient funding to provide our own administration services. That means your bequests, grants or donations will not be used for funding the Trust’s administration for at least two years.
With that support in place, as from 1 July, ex-Trustee Lindsay Smith has temporarily become Trust Administrator. Over the next few months he and the Trustees will carefully define the role, responsibilities and time expectations of the Trust Administrator, before advertising for an external appointee to the part-time position.
The Tūpiki Trust expect that the Trust Administrator will have a passion for climbing and real experience in administration, finance, donor support, project management and be able to assist the Board with their communications to the climbing community.
Until that role is advertised and an appointment made, Lindsay will coordinate the Trust’s administration. The NZ Alpine Club will continue to provide the Trust’s physical address and the close partnership between the two organisations will continue with the new administration processes in place.
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust
P O Box 786,
Christchurch
027 404 8911
Margaret Fyfe – Patron
Ross Cullen – Chair
Jim Petersen
Geoff Gabites
Dave Bamford
Martin Hunter
Sam Newton
Lindsay Smith – Administrator
admin@tupikitrust.org.nz
