Kia ora, this will be the last update for 2025. I wish you and your families’ a Merry Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday season. The next monthly update will likely be sent in mid-January.
This month, read on to learn about:
- Our new Chief Guide
- Important reminders – consultation on draft policies, and Journal submissions closing soon!
- And much more!
As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. Please feel free to email me at president@wtmc.org.nz.
Ngā mihi
Daniel Madley
President
Welcome to our new Chief Guide – James Hancock
Congratulations to James Hancock, who is joining the Committee as the new Chief Guide following Sara’s resignation. James is an experienced and enthusiastic tramper, who has completed Te Araroa and explored many remote parts of the New Zealand backcountry. As Assistant Chief Guide, James has worked alongside Sara, led the preparation of trip schedules and made a strong contribution to the wider trip planning and training work programme.
As we all know, the Chief Guide role is very demanding and I look forward to seeing what James will do leading this area. Part of the Chief Guide team is the Trip support coordinator (previously Transport Officer), and we’re on the hunt for a new person to replace Eoin, who has been in the role for a number of years and is leaving Wellington. Thank you Eoin for your contribution to the club, and all the best for your move.
The role is currently shared with Ashleigh (month on, month off) with the key responsibilities being to ensure bookings are made promptly (huts, ferries, rental vans) and to coordinate with the Chief Guide and trip leader on logistics to make sure trips run smoothly. This is an important role to ensure members can get out on trips, and if you are interested, please contact chiefguide@wtmc.org.nz.
Important reminders – consultation on draft policies, and Journal submissions
The Committee is seeking feedback on draft Club policies by 5pm Sunday 7 December. You can find more information on why we are updating the policies, and the links to the relevant documents here. To provide feedback, please email president@wtmc.org.nz and/or the Responsible Officer for each policy. Thank you to the people who have already provided feedback.
Submissions for the next Journal close at the end of December! Whether you’re a writer, artist, poet, chef or photographer we’d love to have your voice in the next WTMC club journal. We’re looking to capture the memorable, fun, unexpected and interesting stories and images from 2025(ish) through the eyes of the club — find out more details at wtmc.org.nz/journal. Email your submissions, questions or bright ideas to journal@wtmc.org.nz.
We’ll also be opening nominations for Life Members soon, and we’ll ask for submissions to be received by early-February 2026. Only 18 members have been elected Life Members in the Club’s almost 80-year history, to acknowledge their outstanding contribution to helping the Club over many years. The Committee looks forward to considering the nominations and putting forward deserving candidates for election to Life Membership at the next AGM in April 2026.
Recent Tongariro Fire, and Summer Lodge
We’re all relieved that the recent fire at Tongariro National Park was able to be contained and extinguished, and the fire did not seriously threaten Whakapapa or Iwikau Villages. Our thoughts are with the people and communities who have been impacted, and it was heartening to see club lodges over by Ohakune ski field able to accommodate displaced families, and volunteers.
Our Liaison Officer Sam spent a few days on the fireground, and reports back that although the worst of the fire was dealt with by the rain, there was still plenty of hot sweaty work to do. A highlight of Sam’s time was the huge amount of manaakitanga shown to the volunteers from the local community.
The fire provides a very stark example of just how real a risk fire is on the mountain, how careful we need to be when we’re at the Lodge, and just how treasured the Lodge is. On that note, every year we run Summer Lodge, where the Lodge is open, and no bookings need to be made. You simply ring a mobile number the day before you want to come, (to let the Lodge Operator know you are coming) and once you get there you pay via bank transfer for the nights you intend to stay. If you end up staying more nights, you pay more money.
Summer Lodge is a great way to enjoy the many activities that Tongariro National Park offers, and a great opportunity to relax with friends and get to know others.
We are finalising our Summer Lodge dates; potentially it will be from Friday 26 December to Tuesday 6 January. We need a Lodge Operator to be on duty for the Lodge to be open. If you are a trained Lodge Operator and want to stay at the Lodge around this time, please contact Miles at lodgeconvenor@wtmc.org.nz or Sam at lodgebookings@wtmc.org.nz.
Club trips in the last month
The Club has taken full advantage of some more settled weather in the past month.
Ethan led a trip to Mitre and Mitre Flats Hut, and Lynsey and Jo led trips down to Mt Fyffe and Hapuku Huts respectively. Lynsey reports back that they had wonderful weather and enjoyed the trip despite the very early start needed on day two to meet back up with Jo’s group.
James and I led two trips into the Tararua, with James’ group getting a perfect weather window for a Bannister Crossing linking Blue Range and Arete Forks Huts. The group covered over 4,000m of elevation gain over the weekend and had plenty of type 1, 2 and 3 fun scrambling over Bannister and enjoying views of the Tararua peaks. My group headed over the Broken Axe Pinnacles and the Kings, visiting as many 1500m peaks as possible. Sadly, Bannister was in the clag when we visited a day after James’ group, but it was a very enjoyable trip nonetheless.
Finally, in the weekend just gone, Maj-Britt and Sarah led trips into Kahurangi, to Granity Pass Hut and Mt Owen, and up to Mt Patriarch respectively, and Ultan led a day trip up to Mt Kaukau in Wellington.
Club events and social activities
Thank you to Kevin Thompson who recently gave a club talk on Search and Rescue back in the 1970s – 1990s. It was fascinating to hear about the techniques used before modern technology became mainstream, and my favourite stories involved Kevin jumping out of a helicopter into a tree, and using chainsaws to clear a spot for a helicopter to land!
Thank you also to Roger Bolam, Sam Kempthorne and Brian and Jan Goodwin, whose efforts helped organise a successful weekend trip to the Lodge for a number of club Veterans this past weekend. The group got out on the mountain and found some snow, caught up with old friends, and mentioned that the weekend reinforced what a large part the club has played in their lives. I want to also acknowledge five triple Veterans (club members for over 60 years!) who were at the Lodge on the weekend – Allen and Sue Higgins, Brian and Jan Goodwin, and Noel Thomas.
Finally, thanks to the efforts of Nicole and Sam the club fleeces have been ordered from Macpac and we’re looking forward to getting them in time for Christmas.
Acknowledgements and reminders
I want to acknowledge Mat and Nye, who have both been involved in the club on trips and behind the scenes in recent years, and are heading (separately!) for new adventures overseas. Mat was on the Committee as Liaison Officer in 2023/24, in addition to leading some incredibly challenging and technical trips, and Nye has made a massive contribution supporting many of the club’s social events, including getting the sponsored prizes for the last two annual quizzes. Go well both!
A reminder that compassionate refunds for people pulling out of trips need to be approved by the Chief Guide – we’re seeing people contacting the Treasurer directly without speaking with the Chief Guide.
Please collect your FMC discount card and quarterly Backcountry magazine (and club patch) from 6.30-7pm each Wednesday at the club rooms (4 Moncrieff Street, Mt Victoria).
We now have WTMC patches (perfect for displaying on your tramping pack) available to collect from the Gear room every Wednesday from 6.30-7pm. Patches are $5 each – payment by bank transfer please.
The Mountains on Stage Film Festival is on in Wellington on 4 December. WTMC members get 20% off tickets, if you’re interested contact communications@wtmc.org.nz to get the discount code.