Publications Plan and Policy

Aim: To provide a service to members by producing publications that record, promote and New Zealand climbing.

Convenor: John Palmer

Committee members: Kester Brown, Richard Thomson, Geoff Spearpoint, Paul Hersey, Simon Middlemass and Michael Welson

Strategic Objectives:

• Publish a Club magazine and the annual Journal to ensure good communication with members and long term record of climbing activity.
• Publish mountaineering guidebooks to cover general climbing activities in all major climbing areas of New Zealand.
• Publish rock climbing and activity guidebooks as required to cover New Zealand rock climbing areas.
• Control and implementation of standard Club branding across all areas of the Club.
• Ensure the website is of a high standard to provide up to date and relevant information to members and those interested in New Zealand mountaineering.
• Develop the national library and archives as a valuable resource for climbers and researchers.
• To balance publications expenditure against publications income.

Current Projects and Key Results:

• Publish ‘The Climber’ magazine quarterly in full colour.
• Publish the ‘New Zealand Alpine Journal’, with mid weight gated cover.
• Upgrade the NZAC website, improve ease of searching and add a shopping trolley in 2007.
• Publish Northern Rock 2nd Edition by Michael Welson, in 2007.
• Publish in 2007, with Great Southern Lakes Publishing, the 7th Edition of Moirs South by Robin McNeill in NZAC format.
• Reprint NZAC guidebooks as required by stock levels (Arthur's Pass, NZ Backcountry Skiing in 2007).
• Review NZAC guidebooks 'print run' decision criteria and implement during 2007.
• Review stock NZAC holds (NZAC and other guidebooks, NZAJ, Climber, videos) and reduce stock levels to <$75 000 by March 2008.
• Develop pricing policies for non-NZAC publications and DVDs sold by NZAC to ensure reasonable margin over all costs.
• Publish an expanded edition of the Mount Aspiring region guidebook by John Cocks, (including Humboldt, Forbes, Barrier and Richardson mountains) in 2008.
• Publish Avalanche Awareness with Penny Goddard in 2008.
• Publish Wakatipu Rock by Guillaume Charton in 2008.
• Publish (with the Canterbury Mountaineering Club) Mid South Island guidebook by Geoff Spearpoint and Yvonne Cook, in 2008.
• Develop a contract for an ice climbing guidebook by Mal Haskin, publish in 2008.
• Support Al Uren in research for Modern Clmbing, with Internal Affairs grant. Publish with Craig Potton Publishing in 2008
• Develop the NZAC library with complete sets of the NZAJ, The Climber, Canterbury Mountaineer, key overseas Journals, all NZ books in Langton 2005. Cull unwanted books, upgrade books collection by donations, or purchases, cover books.
• Develop, implement and monitor a marketing plan for NZAC Publications.
• Design and layout of identification and information signs for NZAC huts.
• Design and layout of access signage for rockclimbing sites.
• Apply for funding to make New Zealand Alpine Journals 1891-1990 available online at NZ Electronic Text Centre
• Maintain map collection and trip reports on overseas climbing for use by NZAC members in expedition planning.