and track projects. By and large these initiativesare excellent and well supported. Indeed, they<strong>of</strong>ten reflect local NGO efforts.However, challenges arise when the stakesget a bit bigger, and we get into trade-<strong>of</strong>fs. Howwould we feel if a mining company fundedpest control that was the equivalent <strong>of</strong> thebiodiversity loss it will cause? What if it fundedmore, so there was a net benefit? This is calledbiodiversity <strong>of</strong>f-setting. Off-setting involves acomplex range <strong>of</strong> technical issues includingcomparison, measurement and monitoring.For now though, trampers and climbersneed to focus on how we feel about it froman ethical perspective. If private funding couldconserve one ecosystem, would we be willingto lose another one to achieve that?Even greater complexity results whenwe can’t compare like with like. With therecent decision to approve aerially assistedtrophy hunting in the Hooker-LandsboroughWilderness Area, DOC has attempted to makea gain for conservation by requiring a certainnumber <strong>of</strong> thar to be culled for each trophy thatis taken. This might improve conservation, butthe loss is to recreation, because the wildernessvalue <strong>of</strong> the Hooker-Landsborough has beendiminished. So far, DOC seems incapable <strong>of</strong>thinking about the trade-<strong>of</strong>f in diminishing socialvalues to improve conservation. FMC will needto fill that space.I should mention here that FMC’ssubmission achieved a small concession out <strong>of</strong>this flawed process, resulting in the removal <strong>of</strong>the area around Marks Flat and Mt Hooker fromthe permit. Keen trans-alpinists will be surprisedto hear that the original decision claimed that thisarea was inaccessible to foot-based recreation! Ihaven’t had too many problems walking throughthe area on my four or five trips through there.One potential good outcome from DOC’spartnership approach would be agreementsthat better enable clubs to manage tracks andhuts. Sadly, the feedback I have received fromsome clubs does not match the rhetoric frompoliticians and DOC Head Office. DOC willquickly kill the idea <strong>of</strong> partnership if staff insistthat clubs sign a 25-page contract, with thethreat <strong>of</strong> ripping out the hut if they don’t. Thishas already happened in one instance, and anyclubs that have similar experiences should letus know.Another area <strong>of</strong> challenge arises fromTreaty settlements. I recently attended aexcellent summit on the future management<strong>of</strong> Te Urewera National Park, arranged byNgai Tuhoe. A wide range <strong>of</strong> users came andspoke about what Te Urewera means to them.I spoke about how trampers from all over thecountry appreciate Te Urewera National Parkas a special place, and that for trampers in thetop <strong>of</strong> the North Island, while not having thelength <strong>of</strong> attachment that Tuhoe have, it is still‘their place’.I also spoke about the values that FMCwould want preserved in any treaty deal, andthat the National Parks Act provided a minimumset <strong>of</strong> values (for example, assured publicaccess, protection <strong>of</strong> biodiversity, and limitedcommercial activity).At the conclusion <strong>of</strong> the day TamatiKruger from Tuhoe accepted the propositionsput forward by all speakers. I can’t possiblyhope to articulate what Te Urewera means toTuhoe, so I won’t even try. Suffice to say, forTuhoe the preservation <strong>of</strong> the ecosystems <strong>of</strong> TeUrewera won’t be subject to the same nationalprioritisation exercise that DOC must go throughto allocate funds.As DOC looks to focus and prioritise itsspending on conservation, and iwi like Tuhoewant a greater level <strong>of</strong> protection for conservationland in their rohe, and have the means to fund it,it isn’t hard to see a future where iwi will directfunding into conservation efforts, and local clubinitiatives could fit in with this.FMC can see both the opportunities andthreats from this new approach to conservation.At this stage, all I can give you is more questionsthan answers, but these changing times aregoing to challenge traditional FMC views. Theexecutive would welcome any feedback andthoughts, or simply comments and questions,as this work advances.FMCRob Brown above Marks Flat, with Mt Hooker beyond, Hooker-Landsborough Wilderness Area, West CoastPhoto: Shaun Barnett/Black Robin Photography6FMC Bulletin • <strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
<strong>August</strong> <strong>2012</strong> • FMC Bulletin 7
- Page 2 and 3: With each of our stores stocking ov
- Page 8 and 9: LettersJan HeineAfter seeing the ph
- Page 15 and 16: FMC AGM, 9 June 2012, ChristchurchE
- Page 17 and 18: Hut Bookings on the Rees-DarttrackL
- Page 19 and 20: Great Walks Hut and CampsiteFees St
- Page 21 and 22: hut will be closed and dismantled i
- Page 23: August 2012 • FMC Bulletin 23
- Page 26 and 27: Here is a summary of the walks that
- Page 28 and 29: FMC Youth Scholarships - Expedition
- Page 30 and 31: Transit Beach, with thickets of ong
- Page 32 and 33: New ZealandOUTDOORS INTENTIONS FORM
- Page 34 and 35: This year, groups travelled to Tasm
- Page 36 and 37: Arthur’s Pass CallingGerald Bruce
- Page 38 and 39: Sam McLeod laying traps in the Edwa
- Page 40 and 41: Planning Your Words CarefullyExecut
- Page 42 and 43: Forest and Bird’s Mokihinui River
- Page 44 and 45: WeatherWind in the MountainsBy Leig
- Page 46 and 47: Huts as HeritageBig Hut, Rock and P
- Page 48: Uncle Jacko’s Cookery ColumnKindl
- Page 51 and 52: 7. What was the surname of the famo
- Page 53 and 54: The Hungry Heart, Journeys withWill
- Page 55 and 56:
Give Your Thoughts Life, WilliamCol
- Page 57 and 58:
Climbing DictionaryBy Matt Samet, i
- Page 59 and 60:
The most dramaticseason of all!Pict
- Page 61 and 62:
Little AdsFinished with this Bullet
- Page 63 and 64:
406MHz PLB’s, GPS’s, TrackingGM