When I became the General Manager of the New Zealand Alpine Club seven years ago, I imagined that the job would involve organising amazing climbing events, supporting publication of our fantastic literature and generally finding ways of promoting climbing in New Zealand. All of this is true, and I feel privileged to lead the Club. What I did not anticipate was that I would spend so much time talking about toilets, human waste and the practical issues of dealing with it.
Phase 1 of the project showed that some Arowhenua whānau were deeply suspicious of what mountaineers were doing up on Aoraki Mt Cook. Because most Arowhenua whānau had not been up onto the high areas of the mountain, they didn’t have any direct experience of what mountaineers do. Instead, whānau pieced together available information from sources like documentaries showing piles of rubbish, human waste and dead bodies on Everest. Little wonder that mountaineers were not necessarily viewed in a good light.
black and white image oif mountaineers near Aoraki
Human waste is causing considerable environmental and cultural harm in alpine areas globally, as well...
Mountain view across lake
This research sought to gain insight into the ways that Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua whānau...
Mountain vista
A couple of years ago, Karen Leacock at the New Zealand Alpine Club identified that...
Alpine climber snow face valley of cloud
If you've been following this week you'll know that we have just one category and...

The NZAC Tititea Aspiring and the Otago Alps Guidebook launch, held on September 5th, 2024...

Tititea Aspiring And The Otago Alps
A not to be missed event. Join us in Wānaka to celebrate the launch of...
Skiers in alpine terrain
As the South Island is gripped by what some have described as 'powdermonium', it is...
helicopter with rescuer on longline
Winter is upon us and many of us will be out in the hills having...
If one was to create a bachelor’s degree for the Canterbury mountain ranges, Alpine Panorama could...