The Committee consulted Members on a set of new policies in December 2025. Thank you to the Members who took the time to provide feedback, it was greatly appreciated and has improved the draft policies.
The Committee has considered the feedback, discussed amendments and approved the new policies at our one-day offsite on 22 February. The final policies are available on the Club website here.
The new policies are effective immediately, with the exception of trip leader discounts (see clause 7.1) which will be effective from the start of the next trip schedule on 3 April.
If you have questions on the policies, please contact [email protected], or the Responsible Officer for a particular policy (see the top of page 2 of the document linked above).
Notable changes made as a result of consultation and Committee deliberation include:
- Clause 2.4.2 – Clarifying in the Privacy policy that personal information such as name and phone numbers may be identifiable when Members interact with social forum, such as the Club WhatsApp Community.
- Clause 3.4 – Paua Hut can only booked by Members, or at the discretion of the Booking coordinator. Previously only Members could book and a Member had to be staying at the Hut as part of a group. This allows non-members who have a good reputation to continue to use and enjoy Paua Hut.
- Clause 4.7 – Previously you had to register to drive the club van. This is no longer required. It is not a requirement of our van insurance and results in the Club unnecessarily holding personal information (drivers licences).
- Clause 4.9 – The timeframe for not drinking alcohol prior to driving is now 12 hours (previously 24 hours). The Committee felt this struck the right balance, for example if someone was drinking on a Thursday night prior to a Friday afternoon departure.
- Explanations (page 7) – It is encouraged, but no longer mandatory, for personal PLBs carried on Club trips to be recorded on the intentions form.
- Clause 5.4 – The Committee will keep a register of serious near misses and other incidents. This was previously discretionary.
- Clauses 6.2, 6.5.1 and 6.9.1 – refunds for trips, the Lodge and Paua Hut are now standardised at two weeks prior to the activity or stay. In particular, this will change how trip fees are calculated from the next trip schedule, which the Chief Guide has already flagged with trip leaders. The intention is for calculating trip fees to be less of a burden for trip leaders.
- Clauses 7.1 and 7.2 – Trip leaders will receive a 20 per cent discount of the entire trip fee. In the draft policies this was $30 (the fixed fee). An equivalent discount (20 per cent) has been provided for the Lodge Operator.