Tūpiki Trust Spring 2023 Newsletter
As our second year of operation comes to a close, the NZAC Tūpiki Trust is proud of the contribution we have been able to make to climbing in New Zealand. Our Annual Report due out at our AGM later this week measures our success not only in terms on the financial support we have given to projects across Aotearoa, but reports the difference that these projects have made to climbing in Aotearoa and to the care of climbing areas across the motu.
The Trust is deeply grateful for the significant financial support from our founding Chair, the late John Nankervis, but we are also appreciative of the growing number of you who have already made donations or spoken to us about a longer-term commitment to ensure the health of climbing and the climbing environment. Perhaps you have a project that you would like to see happen, a project that you are interested enough to support and fund - in full or in part? Our Trust’s mission is to support climbing and climbing areas and this is only possible thanks to donations from those who appreciate that the outdoors have contributed so much to our lives and want to give something forward to the future.
As you will see in this Newsletter, contributions and projects don’t always have to be major events or involve a lot of dollars to make a difference - but they do need support. If you hold the outdoors to be a significant part of who you are, we ask that you consider donating towards the future for your mokopuna and the outdoor community. If you are interested, you might like to start by checking out the options on our website or by contacting any of the Trustees listed there.
Porter Lodge redevelopment
The Tupiki Trust is delighted to have been able to help the New Zealand Alpine Club with the purchase of a major asset. Back in 1984, the NZAC leased a section on Cook Flat Road, Fox Glacier and built Porter Lodge to provide climbers with accommodation on the West Coast. Plans for a redevelopment of the lodge have always been constrained by the lack of direct ownership.
The lease was due for renewal in 2024, however with substantial support from the Tūpiki Trust, NZAC has been able to purchase the freehold title. NZAC will now assess how the building might be upgraded to provide two bathrooms, improved kitchen/dining area and other improvements.
Porter Lodge at Fox Glacier
Climbnz with new bells and whistles
In recent years ClimbNZ has become an important reference tool for climbers but technical challenges were limiting its future and its ease of use but with the support of the Tūpiki Trust, all that has changed. As part of a long plan, NZAC has completed phase 2 of the ClimbNZ development project and the improved site was launched for public use on 18 September.
Moving ClimbNZ to updated platform provides improved search options including a route finder, indexes and a map interface. It works well on mobile and has a completely new design.
NZAC reached agreement with Wānaka Climbing Club for the material in the Wānaka Rock guide to be published on ClimbNZ and information on Whanganui Bay climbs is also being added to the site over the next week weeks.
Tūpiki Trust provided funding to support phase 2 and has committed to providing further support for phase 3 work which will see Integrated sign-on with the Club’s membership system, access and safety information and alerts and the creation of climber log books.
Rapid progress at Hillary Outdoors climbing wall
Hillary Outdoor Centre at Maungatepopo, under the shadow of Mt Ruapehu, frequently encounters rough weather which hampers instruction of rock climbing and related climbing skills. Tūpiki Trust was pleased to be able to support Hillary Outdoors in the development of a new classroom, construction of a new indoor climbing wall and purchase of climbing equipment for course participant’s use.
Good progress has been achieved during winter and the classroom is now completed, a new high-spec indoor wall rapidly talking shape and climbing gear ordered. Hillary Outdoors judge they are on track for December 2023 completion and you can read more details of what has been achieved here.
Te Ara documentary success continues.
When Tūpiki Trust first saw the early scenes for Greenstone TV documentary showing a young wahine Māori use climbing as a pathway to success, we knew our funding had helped make something special…. First shown at the 2023 Wanaka Mountain Film Festival the four-part series won the People’s Choice and it has just been announced that Te Ara has been accepted for this year’s prestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival. If you haven’t yet watched the four ten-minute episodes, the series is still available on Stuff. Just follow this link to their site and the short films and you will see why Te Ara – The Pathway – has achieved the success it has. Or for a quick intro to the project, click here.
Jim Petersen joins Tūpiki Board
Incoming NZAC President Jim Petersen has joined the Board of the Tūpiki Trust, as outgoing President Clare Kearney ends her term. Jim’s passion for the outdoors began in the Tongariro area where, as a teen on school outdoor education trips, he first came face-to-face with the mountain tops and what lies beyond.
Jim began volunteering for the New Zealand Aline Club when he moved to Christchurch, where he ran Banff Film festival screenings, began instructing and coordinating snowcraft courses and has chaired the Canterbury Westland Section Committee since 2017. As a member of the Section Council and its predecessor, the Club Committee, Jim has worked on the NZAC Board with the four most recent presidents, and that experience will ensure the Club’s close links with the Tūpiki Trust continue to develop to our mutual benefit.
First projects supported in Tūpiki Trust September round
Tūpiki Trust recently considered 20 applications for funding in its fourth round, Board members were pleased with the range of applications which included land purchase, hut maintenance and upgrading, youth introduction to alpine environments, crag protection and enhancement, research and publication support, a climbing wall feasibility study and more. We are pleased to be able to advise of success for seven smaller projects. These include:
Further announcements of successful applications and grant amounts can be expected over the next month.
Mature Mountaineers meetings
The continuing popularity of Mature Mountaineers events is a clear indication of how much they are valued by older climbers in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
In Christchurch 65+ people gathered to hear Mike Mahoney speak on the 1977 NZAC Everest Expedition. Mike was supported at the event by three other team members, Keith Woodford, Dick Price and Mike Browne, representing 50% of the original team.
In Wellington Geoff Gabites enthused a good sized crowd on the Golden years of modern mountaineering of the early 1970’s. This was a pivotal period in the evolution of New Zealand climbing with personalities such as Bill Denz playing a major role in redefining what was climbable.
Wellington’s next event looks set to continue this success, when Lydia Bradey will share her mountaineering experiences with veteran mountaineer Dave Bamford in a discussion format called Big Dreams – Big Risks – Big Nature. From climbs of Aoraki/ Mt Cook as a teenager to aiding the big walls in Yosemite to the first female oxygen free ascent of Everest, Lydia will share a few of her reminiscences. Lydia has many insights into managing risks, Everest guiding , working in the film industry and mentoring aspiring young adventurers and is one of New Zealand’s greatest adventurers herself.
Jointly hosted by the NZAC and Tupiki Trust on 30 November, this event will be held at the Tararua Tramping Club Rooms, 4 Moncrief Street, Mount Victoria, starting at 2pm. Although a Mature Mountaineers meeting, everyone is invited. If you’d like more information, contact NZAC Chair Andy Carruthers -0212446051 or Tūpiki Trust’s Dave Bamford 0274570313.
Mature Mountaineer meetings are a NZ Alpine Club initiative providing an opportunity for older members of the NZAC to get together, share and hear stories from an invited speaker and have afternoon tea. The intention is to provide a social gathering for those less likely to go out to evening events. The concept has been successful in Christchurch (since 2006), Auckland and, more recently, Wellington. The functions are open to all interested outdoor enthusiasts and are made possible thanks to support from NZAC Tūpiki Trust.
Castledowns Re-bolting
Southland climbing enthusiast Ben Shunfenthal reports he has made steady progress re-bolting and re equipping climbs at Castledowns in Central Southland. These projects are essential to enable safe climbing at many New Zealand crags, but they are not glamorous, require plenty of dedicated effort. We salute the work that Ben is applying on this project and encourage nearby climbers to contact Ben, offer him support with the tasks. benshunfenthal@gmail.com
Information about the Central Southland limestone crag and some photos are available of course on ClimbNZ. https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/southland/castledowns
NZAC Human Waste Solutions project
The difficult and costly management of human waste in the mountains is often controversial. Tūpiki Trust was pleased to be able to provide financial support to NZAC to enable it to investigate how human waste can be managed in the mountains in a way that is acceptable to tangata whenua and to climbers, in a way that is practical to operate and adopted by climbers.
The project, led by Chris North of University of Canterbury, has now completed phase 1 with strong input from contributors at Arowhenua marae. Phase 2 is will get underway soon, once ethics approval has been gained for the study, and will involve an online survey for climbers to contribute their views on acceptable ways of managing waste in the mountains. We encourage all climbers to complete the questions when you get your survey. Phase 3 of the project will commence later this year.
The NZAC Tūpiki Trust
P O Box 786,
Christchurch
03 377 7595