with Aunty Rata March is Aunty Rata’s favourite month of the year. The weather is at its best and passion fruit are in season. What more can an old bird want? Well maybe a few seeds! This month I have a recipe for you that features nuts and seeds. Yes I know, at first blush … Read more
Dear Aunty Rata So lovely to see recipes appearing again in our newsletter and that you are being the Aunt Daisy of WTMC for those a little scared of anything culinary. Your attribution of a lovely Moroccan couscous to me was flattering but I have to admit the version is not mine -though a very … Read more
The North Island is still didymo free, so it is timely to remind your members that the “Check Clean Dry” process is still vitally important in keeping the North Island didymo free. With the rapidly approaching Easter break, being a traditional time for South Island trips, I would like to draw your attention to some … Read more
From Marie Henderson – Gear Custodian These are useful, and sometimes critical, shelters. Like all gear they can take a bit of a battering. They do better when used the right way and shown some respect. So it seemed a good topic to review. A double skin tent is one like the club alpine tents … Read more
with Aunty Rata It’s February already. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? Speaking of which, Jackie Foster is running a “Best Tramping Bum” competition and your Aunty Rata has been lucky enough to have a sneak peek at some of the entries. She reckons this one is definitely the front runner… But don’t worry … Read more
With Aunty Rata Seasons Greetings! If you have managed to fit reading this column in with all your Xmas parties then good on you, although possibly you need to get out more. After a tramp, kayak, bike ride or climb everyone fancies a decent feed of kai and most of us are not adverse to … Read more
With the holidays fast approaching some of us are planning longer trips. Such trips are always more enjoyable if you are not overburdened from carrying too much stuff. I have never heard anyone complain that their pack is too light. Consider some of these ideas and you may be able to save your legs and … Read more
With Aunty Rata Hi fellow trampers Aunty Rata is a big fan of adding kumara to her kai when out tramping, kayaking or biking. Yes I know the little blighters are a bit heavy but they are packed full of vitamins and minerals – vitamin A, B6, C, calcium and iron. You may think kumara … Read more
A letter to the editor of the Wairarapa News I sometimes wonder if our MP John Hayes deliberately inserts something to rile me in his weekly column, From the House. That of 28 October 2009 has a tailpiece about electricity generation – admittedly a topic about which a politician can please only some voters only … Read more
It has been another busy month. Here is the latest news on FMC advocacy and significant developments of importance to trampers, climbers and all interested in safe outdoor recreation. Threat of Mining in National Parks & other Conservation Lands As a result of our opposition to the proposals that could open up conservation lands and … Read more