Wilderness September 2025

WE OFTEN hear negative refrains along the lines of ‘young people today’, accompanied by a shake of the head. I'm perhaps more acutely aware of this at the moment as my wife and I are facing a dilemma it seems all parents must confront: when to get their child a mobile phone. Our daughter is apparently the ‘only one in her class without one’. Yet we all know the harm these devices can cause: bullying, dangerous content and addiction to endless scrolling. Adults struggle to manage their time on their phones; how can we expect our children to? So, I'd like to draw your attention to many inspiring young people. As with every issue of Wilderness, if you turn to p6 you will get a glimpse of what many readers'…

ANOTHER LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY It was heartening to see the challenges of tramping with neurodiversity acknowledged in the June 2025 issue (see ‘Last Weekend’). Before we had children, my husband and I, keen trampers, were prepared for heavy packs, carrying nappies, limited walking distances, and a snail's pace. What we had not counted on was the additional complexity when one of your children is neurodiverse. Planning and executing tramps is another level of difficulty when your child has sensory issues and cannot sleep in a sleeping bag or any other bedding apart from their duvet from home, cannot tolerate sandflies touching their skin or flying around their face, and has severe food restrictions. Staying in shared accommodation when your child sometimes freaks out at loud noises and responds by screaming…

Get your photo published here to receive a meal from Real Meals worth $18. Last Weekend submission criteria can be found at wildernessmag.co.nz. LEARN MORE ABOUT REAL MEALS AT www.realmeals.co.nz.…

Jack Pavich was 19 when he lost one of his closest friends to suicide. The Waikato-based ex-dairy farmer turned business owner believes that, given the right care, the tragedy could have been prevented. This September the 29-year-old is setting out to conquer the length of New Zealand on foot, tramping Te Araroa to raise awareness and funds for the mental health of young Kiwis. “Too many young Kiwis are struggling in silence,” he says. Pavich is raising money for I Am Hope's Gumboot Friday initiative. “I chose this organisation so that young Kiwis in need can have access to free counselling. Every step I take is for our rangatahi. Let's walk this road together.” Pavich has completed a Great Walk in the North Island and several multi-day trips, but this…

Spring storms can bring new dumps of snow to alpine environments, and trampers need to be wary of avalanche danger. In spring, milder temperatures and rain, rather than snow, can cause avalanches that are even bigger than those in winter, NZ Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said. These avalanches can run further down a mountain to reach the valley floor. “Trampers heading through valleys, gullies or streambeds below snowloaded slopes need to take avalanche safety seriously,” Daisley warned. He said trampers can minimise their avalanche risk exposure by following a few simple guidelines: Start early: The spring sun warms snow rapidly, increasing avalanche danger in the afternoon. Start early and aim to be well clear of steep, snowy terrain before the day warms up. Delay your trip after…

Shane Riley and his partner Vicky from Taupiri are the lucky winners of an entry to the sold-out 2026 Kathmandu Coast to Coast. They were the successful bidders on the Trademe auction, where $4121 was donated to the Backcountry Trust. “We want to thank the countless volunteers who give their time for the trust, and the sponsors who help fund their work,” Riley said. “People who do what they can for organisations like the trust truly are the best of us.” He said the auction “spoke to them”. “The chance to be part of something that blends adventure, purpose and backcountry stewardship was too good to pass up. We never expected to win, but we were always going to push hard,” he said. The Coast to Coast organisers wanted to…