Is Mountaineering Dying in New Zealand?

Pat Deavoll

New Zealand Alpine Club

Event and Activities Co-ordinator

Ph. 03 377 7595

Mob. 021 216 1386

pat@alpineclub.org.nz

NEW ZEALAND ALPINE CLUB, CHRSTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

Media Release

Friday, 9 October, 12.30pm

Is Mountaineering Dying in New Zealand?

The sport of mountaineering, once so much a part of the Kiwi heritage, is dying in New Zealand and the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) is hosting a ‘debate,’ to try and identify why this is happening and what can be done about it.

A number of New Zealand’s best climbers will come together at ‘Our City, Otautahi,’ Christchurch, to discuss the dilemma as part of the NZAC Annual General Meeting on Friday.

NZAC Executive Director Ollie Clifton says a key indicator of the decline is the falling numbers of mountaineers using the Clubs mountain huts.

“The main huts at Mt Cook seem to be full of guided parties and tourists,” he said. “Where are all the Kiwi climbers? I think they have all gone soft! If we are going to have Sir Ed’s of the future, we need to take urgent action.”

Kester Brown, Managing Editor of the New Zealand Climber, the NZAC quarterly publication that documents the country’s climbing achievements, says it’s becoming increasingly hard to source alpine stories and images.

“I get plenty of information on rock climbing, bouldering and skiing, “he said, “but alpinism seems to be on the decline.”

Pete Cammell of Auckland, who will be elected the new President of the NZAC at Friday’s meeting, feels people don’t have mountaineering adventures anymore because there might be some hardship involved.

“Rather than an afternoon of exertion at the rock climbing crag, followed by a meal with friends, a comfy bed and a chance to update your Facebook page, in the mountains there’s a risk of the unexpected…a forced bivvy and of course big packs, early starts and long days. That would be too much suffering.”

The decline is reflected in the quality of mountaineering ascents New Zealand climbers are doing overseas, he says.

“Whereas New Zealand climbers used to be a world-leading, now we’ve slipped behind other climbing nations. We no longer have any up and coming Sir Ed’s.”

The debate starts at 7pm, Friday 16 at ‘Our City, Otautahi’ on the corner of Cashel and Worcester Sts and is open to the public.

END.

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