Reciprocal Rights with Overseas Clubs

Overview

NZAC is a founder member of Union Internationale des Associations Alpinisme (UIAA), the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.  UIAAs Articles of Association urge all member associations to extend to all other member associations the benefits granted to their members. This principle of reciprocity extends to use of huts owned by member associations.

NZAC has specific hut reciprocity agreements with some clubs and federations which are members of UIAA, as well as some other clubs. These generally give NZAC members discounted or members rates at overseas huts and, for members of the relevant overseas clubs, members rates at all of our seventeen nationwide huts.  NZAC is currently negotiating further agreements.  But, even where there is no agreement in place, presentation by an NZAC member of his or her current membership card, which includes the UIAA logo, may result in that member being granted members rates or a discount at huts, refuges and lodges overseas.  Make sure you take your membership card with you when you climb abroad because this principle of reciprocity is dear to the Clubs heart and one which it is pursuing with vigour. It benefits Club members when they climb overseas and is one of the ways we can encourage overseas climbers to visit New Zealand.

Specific arrangements are summarised below:

Alpine Club of Canada(ACC). The Clubs agreement with ACC entitles NZAC members to members rates at all ACC accommodation facilities on payment of the Huts Option fee, currently Canadian $24.  (ACC members also pay this fee separately from their subscriptions). The Huts Option fee can be paid by contacting ACC. Evidence of current NZAC membership will be required. ACC has twenty-eight huts and a clubhouse at Canmore. 

ACC members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current ACC membership must be available.

American Alpine Club (AAC).  The Clubs agreement with AAC entitles NZAC members to members rates at accommodation facilities owned by AAC and certain other facilities where AAC has negotiated discounts for its members. These are currently few but AAC has recently extended this network. Evidence of curren NZAC membership will be required. AAC members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current AAC membership must be available.

Mountain Club of South Africa(MCSA). The Clubs agreement with MCSA entitles visiting NZAC members with valid membership cards to all privileges of a visiting member to any of MCSAs fourteen Sections. This will include access to MCSAs properties and any discounted hut fees, but will require adherence to local rules. Because of the federal nature of MCSA, a visiting NZAC member is advised first to contact the Central Committee Secretary who will pass him or her on to the most appropriate host(s) of the Sections he or she wishes to visit. MCSA members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts.  Evidence of current MCSA membership must be available.

Polish Mountaineering Association (PZA).  The Clubs agreement with PZA entitles NZAC members to members rates at all huts owned by PZA. Evidence of current NZAC membership will be required. PZA members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current PZA membership must be available.

Clubul Alpin Roman (CAR).  The Clubs agreement with CAR entitles NZAC members to members rates at all huts owned by CAR. Evidence of current NZAC membership will be required. CAR members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current CAR membership must be available.

Alpine Association of Slovenia(PZS). The Clubs agreement with PZS entitles NZAC members to members rates at all huts owned by PZS. Evidence of current NZAC membership will be required. PZS members are entitled to members' rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current PZS membership must be available.

Norwegian Alpine Club - Norsk Tindeklub (NK): The Clubs agreement with NK entitles NZAC members to members rates at all huts owned by NK. Evidence of current NZAC membership may be required. NK members are entitled to members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Likewise evidence of current NK membership must be available.

Great Britain: The Club has full reciprocal arrangements with the following English and Scottish clubs which own huts:

• The Climbers Club
• Fell & Rock Climbing Club (see also the info on Kindred Clubs)
• Scottish Mountaineering Club

European Alps and Pyrenees: The German(DAV), French (CAF), Italian (CAI), Austrian (OAeV) and Swiss (SAC) Alpine Clubs and the Spanish Mountaineering Federation (FEDME) have a reciprocity agreement amongst themselves. This can be extended to other clubs and NZAC is currently discussing how best this can be done or whether separate direct reciprocal arrangements are preferable. Meantime NZAC members have no rights to discounts at huts owned by those clubs.

However, we recommend that members present their current NZAC cards (with the UIAA logo) at huts owned or operated by these clubs, as discounts on hut fees are sometimes given. Alternatively if you plan an extended stay in Europe becoming a member of one of those clubs may be preferable. 

In the meantime and for a limited period, as a show of good faith and consistent with its object of full reciprocity,NZAC will continue to give members of DAV, CAF, CAI, OAeV, SAC and FEDME
members rates at all NZAC owned huts. Evidence of current membership of the relevant club or federation must be available.

Reciprocal Arrangements with Other Clubs.  This page will be updated if and when new reciprocal arrangements are put in place. Meantime, as suggested above, try your luck by presenting your current NZAC card, even at those huts which are not covered by a formal reciprocity arrangement.