Wilderness October 2021

I’M THE KIND of person who eschews the limelight, so when I started thinking about Wilderness’s 30th anniversary, my gut instinct was to opt for a low-key way to mark the milestone. A few stories in the magazine should suffice. But it wasn’t long before I also realised that everyone who loves Wilderness, from staff and contributors to readers and advertisers, deserve more. It’s not every day a magazine turns 30. Indeed, it wasn’t that long ago that print was deemed ‘dead’. The rise of the Internet and social media was set to deliver the final blow to a medium in decline. I still meet people today who show surprise when I tell them I work in print media. Shouldn’t you be looking for work elsewhere, they say – though…

FEES IN NATIONAL PARKS Dave Bamford’s comments raised some concerns for me (‘Is tourism’s time up in our national parks’, September 2021). While I support a reasonable amount of user pays if the money goes where intended, the last thing we need is more bureaucracy, red tape and impractical obstacles impinging on our enjoyment of the outdoors at whatever life stage we’re at. In planning to avoid past problems on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or at Milford Sound, those in charge must identify the objective and keep the solution simple and focussed. Power and revenue-collecting ability over our public treasures must never be given to anyone without the necessary competence, strict and recognised parameters, and consideration of the ability for Kiwis to challenge and make changes. The solutions must make…

Get your photo published here to receive a Victorinox Escort keyring pocket knife worth $22. Learn more about Victorinox at e.ampro.co.nz. ARE YOU DOING THE WALK1200KM CHALLENGE? We want to see where you’re logging your miles. See wildernessmag.co.nz/lastweekend for submission criteria.…

NEW DOC DIRECTOR-GENERAL APPOINTED The Department of Conservation has a new director-general, who will take over from Lou Sanson who has led the department for eight years. Penny Nelson has been appointed for an initial five-year term, beginning on November 1. Nelson has had a long career as a bureaucrat in Wellington. She is currently deputy director-general of biosecurity at the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), where she oversees the management of biosecurity risk and the response to pest and disease incursions. Lou Sanson said Nelson was a proven leader: “I have known Penny for a number of years and have been highly impressed by her passionate work for the Sustainable Business Council, MFE and MPI.” Deputy public service commissioner Helene Quilter said Nelson has “broad experience in the environment,…

To celebrate Wilderness’s 30th anniversary, we wanted to do something special. Not just for you to read, but for you to do. Walk1200km is a unique challenge that we hope as many Kiwis as possible will take up. Put simply, for the next 12 months, and beyond, the goal is for you to walk as far as you can – whether that be 500km, 1200km or even more. But why? Actually, the real question is why not? Regular walking, especially in nature, is a proven brain booster. It’s also good for your physical and mental health. The beauty of this challenge is that it’s something you can do on your own, in your own time but because Wilderness and thousands of our readers, and even your own family members, will…

Over a year, 1200km is 3.30km a day, which is about 40 minutes of walking at an average speed of 5km/h. In Auckland, that’s the equivalent of walking from the Viaduct to the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain. In Wellington, that’s walking from Parliament to Te Papa and back, or walking from the Wellington railway station to the Mt Victoria lookout. In Christchurch, it’s the equivalent of walking along the Avon River from Victoria Square to Hagley Park and back. And in Dunedin, it’s the distance from the Esplanade to the end of St Clair Beach at Lawyers Head. It’s also roughly the length of the Mt Maunganui Summit Walk. But you don’t have to tick off your weekly total in small daily increments. Over a week, the…