1 PHOTO: Nathan Watson December 2015 Issue 22 Latest News Stay up to date with all that is new at MSC. Celebrating 50 years A glimpse into the past 50 years of outdoor safety in New Zealand. Explore the outdoors Check out our 50 favourite family adventures for the summer... NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAIN SAFETY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER On Track SAFER PLACES, SAFER ACTIVITIES, SAFER PEOPLE EST. 1965 - CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF NZMSC
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NZ Mountain Safety Council - On Track December 2015
The newsletter of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is published electronically 3 times per year. This newsletter provides all the latest information regarding goings on in our organisation and will be of interest to members, member organisations, stakeholders, the outdoors industry and outdoors enthusiasts in New Zealand. MSC's mission is ‘more people participating safely in land-based outdoor activity’ www.mountainsafety.org.nz
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PHOT
O: N
atha
n W
atso
n
December 2015
Issue
22
Latest NewsStay up to date with all that is new at MSC.
Celebrating 50 yearsA glimpse into the past 50 years of outdoor safety in New Zealand.
Explore the outdoorsCheck out our 50 favourite family adventures for the summer...
NEw ZEaLaND MouNtaiN SafEty CouNCiL NEwSLEttErOn Track
SafEr pLaCES, SafEr aCtivitiES, SafEr pEopLE
ESt. 1965 - CELEbratiNg 50 yEarS of NZMSC
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The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is a national organisation with a mandate to encourage safe participation in land-based outdoor activities. It does this through the development and promotion of safety messaging, by identifying and responding to insights provided by the ongoing collection and analysis of data, and by building partnerships with relevant organisations.
COnTenTswelcome 250 years of outdoor safety 3-13MSC news 14Explore our 50 favourite family adventures 15-16about on track 17outdoors intentions form 1850 favourites checklist 19
SafEr pLaCES, SafEr aCtivitiES, SafEr pEopLE
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There’s a lot of work to do. But for now, let’s take time to reflect on our organisation’s successes and on the people who drive it. To mark our anniversary, this issue of On Track is dedicated to celebrating the highlights and memories of the past 50 years, providing the opportunity to think about who we are and how far we’ve come.
As part of our celebration, we’ve compiled our 50 favourite family outdoor experiences in New Zealand’s outdoors, to encourage more people to get into the outdoors with their families this summer. The 50 destinations make up an eclectic mix and there is sure to be something for everyone, regardless of where you are in the country. There’s also an interactive map with more information on each location, which you can check out on the MSC website.
Other recent additions to our website include a series of short videos developed with Wild About New Zealand and Macpac, with basic tips for day trips, overnight tramps, ensuring you’ve got the right gear and exploring the outdoors with your family. We’ve also added the first of our online Outdoor Recreation Activity Guides, developed together with some of our key partners. The first, released earlier this month, is on day walks and the next will be on multi-day tramping. It’s exciting to see the kind of response we’re getting to these new resources, and new ways of engaging people in our outdoor safety messaging, already.
We want to finish by taking the opportunity to acknowledge and thank everyone who has been a part of our history. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to face the future with such confidence. Your past and present contributions have given us a solid platform to build on and we’re excited to see where it takes us.
In December 1965, the National Parks Authority Chairman at the time, R.J. MacLachlan, welcomed the setting up of an organisation to promote mountain safety. He felt it was long overdue. In the previous four years alone, 20 trampers and climbers had died in bush and mountain incidents.
We’ve come a long way since then. Fifty years on, we’re a different organisation. Those of you who’ve been with us for a while know it’s been a journey of considerable change.
Our primary goal has always been, and remains, the safety of people in the outdoors. But we know a lot more now than we did in 1965.
Each year, about three million people head into the outdoors. What we were doing previously was only reaching a fraction of that number. We needed to do more.
We’ve reflected deeply on the past to inform our future direction and we’re aiming to quickly see tangible improvements. We’d like our partners to recognise us as a centre of knowledge and best practice. We will have a sound understanding of our target audiences, as well as the places and activities they favour and the risks they face. People will generally be better informed, more aware, and this should translate into fewer injuries, fatalities and search and rescue incidents.
We’ve had strong support for our efforts, which we see as a reflection that not only are we going in the right direction, but also of the relationships we’ve built with member organisations and partners over the years.
welcome
Have a safe and enjoyable summer - from the MSC team.
Mike Daisley (CEO) and Geoff Ensor (Chairperson)
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50 years of outdoor safety in New Zealand Thank you to the people, organisations and funders that have supported the MSC’s work to keep people safe in New Zealand’s outdoors over the past 50 years.
1913-1930
NZ tramping, ski and alpine clubs began forming across the country.
Follow the timeline of NZ outdoor safety:
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1931
Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) formed from 20 mountain clubs with a focus on safe and correct methods.
the times - June 1982
the press - December 1981
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1965
MSC founded as a result of deaths in New Zealand’s outdoors.
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Evening post - November 1996The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council has released a video which aims to get people thinking about making the right decision when it comes to crossing a river.
“ An uncomfortable night in the bush is a small price to pay for being alive.”
The coroner for North Canterbury, David Crerar, says he has held inquests into two tramping deaths which could have been avoided if people had just decided to wait for rain-swollen streams to go down. Mr Crerar was speaking at the launch of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council’s video “Do You Need To Cross?” on Saturday at the Belmont Memorial Hall in Lower Hutt. He says the two cases were almost identical in that people had tried to cross small side streams that had risen quickly because of heavy rain.
In one case, an experienced tramper was swept off her feet and drowned. Mr Crerar says the decision to cross was the key mistake. The pair realised they couldn’t get across and were backing out when the woman lost her footing. Her body was found 70 kilometres downstream. The second case saw an inexperienced person swept away because the group’s crossing technique was faulty.
The council’s safety programme manager, Ray Goldring, says the video aims to get people thinking about making the right decision. He says every time people come to a river they should ask the following questions.
* Do we need to cross? * Where should we cross?
* How do we cross? The video shows the need to identify the hazards of crossing such as rapids, snags, the strength of the current and the river’s depth. The video also shows the revised technique of binding people together for a crossing. Party members put their arms between the pack and the back and grasp the hip belt or shoulder strap (down low) on the opposite side. This means that, if someone loses their footing, the people on either side can support them.
Mr Goldring says it may be uncomfortable but that is a small price to pay for safety.
In the death of one of the people mentioned above, the tramping party was trying to cross in a way where if a person let go, they were immediately swept away, which is what happened.
If people are on a day trip and haven’t got large packs, the binding technique can be done by reaching around the waist and holding on to clothing.
Another change to crossing techniques has been to make sure the strongest people are at the upstream side of the party crossing the river to break the current for the others. (The strongest person should be second in line to support the upstream person). Older methods saw the tallest people go at each end but this sometimes meant shorter people were lifted up and had trouble finding their footing.
Kevin O’Connor, council chairman, says 32 people have drowned in 15 years in the back country and the video is part of the council’s strategy of getting people to enjoy the outdoors safely. He says the video is a key training resource but it should be used in conjunction with the council’s Bushcraft Manual.
Dominion post - wellington Success publication - July 2015The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is making use of smart communication, data-driven insights and effective partnerships to keep people safe in New Zealand’s outdoors. It’s a new focus for the 50-year-old council, which in the past trained about 2000 people a year how to cross rivers, climb mountains and make smart decisions in the great outdoors.
Chief executive Mike Daisley says its focus is still on safety but now it is looking to maximise partnerships that reach deeper into the community to deliver messages that keep a wider range of people, doing a wide range of outdoor experiences, safer. “These experiences include everything from multi-day trips into remote backcountry to short bush walks close to towns and cities. “Our new direction represents a coherent plan to build safety culture across the diverse groups of people that access the outdoors. “It consists of three major platforms - messaging, using data to gain insights and partnerships.”
More than a million people regularly get into New Zealand’s great outdoors, with around three million getting out at least once a year, and the MSC needs to reach those people to allow them to make smart decisions, Daisley says.“For example, ‘occasional trampers’ may venture outdoors two or three times a year, and will often plan a trip the week before, or on the spur of the moment.“They are just one of the groups in need of readily available safety resources and this is just one instance where a safety course is simply not practical. By reaching these people, in a way that works for them, we can encourage them to plan earlier, helping them to recognise the need for safety in their outdoor activities.”
“ ... build safety culture across the diverse groups of people that access the outdoors.”
New Zealand has a lot of very accessible wilderness that catches people out, both in its changeable weather and in the terrain, he says.“You can drive into a carpark and get out of your car, still with a latte from a coffee shop, and start walking. And within five to 10 minutes you can be in some fairly gnarly countryside.” That can catch tourists out, but it also catches out plenty of Kiwis too. So the challenge now, he says, is to get information to people to enable them to make smart decisions about how to prepare and what they’re capable of.“It’s too late to have a sign at the start of a track saying ‘Don’t wear jandals’ when someone is standing there in jandals, the bus has gone, and they are invested in the experience. “So we’re working to reach people with the right messages at the right time.” This means, he says, that the public is going to be seeing a lot more information from the council and its partners with tips targeting specific groups, such as families.
1966
First annual meeting of the MSC - 6,726 pamphlets and 606 posters distributed.
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1980
Firearms Safety ‘80 campaign
1987
New Zealand Ski Council established, with the MSC as part of the operations.
Our newslettersThis small selection of MSC newsletters, dating back to the mid 70s, provides a small insight into the stories of the MSC and the New Zealand outdoor community over the years.
1985 National Mountaincraft instructors’ course at Mt. Cook National park.
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1965
MSC founded as a result of deaths in NZ outdoors.
1965
MSC founded as a result of deaths in NZ outdoors.
Idenitify your trust-ed contact
Tell them your plans
Visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz/outdoors-intentions for an online system or use the form at the back of this publication.
Let them know when you have returned
Have a great time in the outdoors!
What you are doing
Where are you going
Who you are going with
What transport you are taking
When you expect to be back
How to leave your intentions for a trip
outdoors intentions - august 1977
appointment of alan trist - June 1976
1990-1991
MSC celebrated its 25th year of operatons.
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Historic collateralYou may have seen some of these in huts or on a course - the outdoor safety posters produced by MSC throughout the years show a slice of the stylisation and efforts of the time. Here is a taster of the many developed over the last 50 years.
1993
First issue of Crystal Ball published. Read our latest issue here: www.avalanche.net.nz/resources/Publications/The-Crystal-Ball.asp
New Zealand’s outdoors is a great place to be and there are so many different ways to enjoy it. But before you set off on your adventure, take the time to plan and prepare for a safe trip.Follow the 5 simple rules of Outdoor Safety Code and make sure you tell someone your plans. Tell someone you trust where you are going and leave a date and time for when to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned.
Complete your outdoors intentions by downloading a form or entering your details online at www.adventuresmart.org.nz
Historical collateral cont.Providing clear, accurate and engaging safety information to people within a limited amount of space can be a difficult ask. The MSC has developed many approaches to this over the years, these are some of them:
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The Outdoor Safety
Before you go into the outdoors get familiar with New Zealand’s Outdoor Safety Code.
CODE1
2
3
5
4Plan your tripSeek local knowledge and plan the route you will take and the amount of time you can reasonably expect it to take.
Tell someoneTell someone your plans and leave a date for when to raise the alarm if you haven’t returned.
Be aware of the weatherNew Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the forecast and expect weather changes.
Know your limits Challenge yourself within your physical limits and experience.
Take sufficient suppliesMake sure you have enough food, equipment, clothing and emergency rations for the worst-case scenario. Take an appropriate means of communication.
For more information about how you can prepare for your outdoor activity, visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz
5 simple rulesto help you stay safe:
www.adventuresmart.org.nz
The Boating Safety The Water Safety
CODE CODE
Also available:
Some of the outdoor safety themes we cover today.
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You can find them on many a bach bookshelf...from the very beginning, MSC has been producing manuals to help people in New Zealand undertake various outdoor activities.Below are manuals one to four, with countless others produced over the years. You may find these in secondhand shops, baches or library archives, showcasing some of the fundamental stages of outdoor safety in New Zealand.
outdoor recreation activity guides 2015Information is key when planning and preparing for an outdoor adventure, and the Outdoor Safety Code provides five simple rules to help you stay safe. Our first activity guide, Day Walks, which is based around the five simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code, is now available.
you can now access the Day walks activity guide here, and stay tuned for other activities. for more manuals and guides, see our online store.
How ready are you?
a message for tourists - 1985
1997
MSC now online at: www.mountainsafety.org.nz
2001
International year of volunteers. MSC celebrated the hard work of its volunteers.
Have you watched these?Such a stupid way to die - 1971 MSC film
Film created for the Mountain Safety Council - The true story of a group of unprepared trampers who encounter various problems, resulting in hypothermia. A classic film from the past with a timeless message.
Hosted online by NZONSCREEN
with the help of wild about New Zealand and Macpac ...These four short videos walk you through the MSC’s key tips for enjoying the outdoors this summer. Each video is built around a different theme, including Family fun, Gear up!, Outdoor overnighters and Day tripper.
available as part of the Let’s go tramping DvD set in our store, which also includes:
It was just a tramp in the bush - 1999The story of two groups heading into the bush for a weekend tramp. One is experienced and prepared, the other is not. Found alive - 1989The story of Grant, an adolescent going on a school tramp and becoming lost overnight in the Rimutaka Ranges. Do you need to cross? - 1996A group of outdoor education students provide safety information and demonstrate recommended river crossing methods.
Check out all of the videos here.
2008
Outdoor recreation discussion document released by Government as a way to reinvigorate the sector.
Have you read our latest annual report? Click here to read it.
“ From a small beginning in 1965 comprising a steering committee and an allocation of $3,000 from the Government the New Zealand Mountain Safety System has grown to more than 40 district committees, many hundreds of voluntary instructors and an annual budget of over $200,000.”
1978-1979
“ From its early years and the initial provision of expertise to the general public in bushcraft, mountaincraft and firearm safety, the Council has continued to expand to other areas of activity.”
1982-1983
“ During the years, the Council has established effective partnerships with many other organisations and bodies who use the outdoors for recreation, or for their work.”
1995-1996
2003-2004
“ In June 2000 the Council expanded its role to provide qualification training to other volunteer organisations.”
2011-2012
2014-2015
“ Many projects are now starting to mature and become embedded across the country. AdventureSmart.org.nz, Outdoors Intentions, the Safety Codes and Avalanche.net.nz are all tangible ways that we are making safety information availble to the public.”
“ The last 12 months represent one of the most critical periods of the organisation’s history. Not only have we been celebrating our 50th anniversary, we’ve also been on a journey of considerable change.”
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MSC news
What’s next?We will continue to collaborate, develop and promote safety to
everyone who recreates in New Zealand’s outdoors. Reaching new audiences through innovative ways presents an exciting future
for everyone involved in outdoor recreation.
December 201523 December
MSC Office closes for 2015
25 December
Christmas
26 December
Boxing Day January 20161 January
New Year’s Day
11 January
MSC Office opens for 2016
25 January
Wellington Anniversary
february 20161 February
Auckland and Nelson Anniversary
6 February
Waitangi Weekend
Calendarannual general Meeting On 30 October we held our AGM in Wellington, which also doubled as a 50 year celebration for our Council member delegates. Starting with a seated lunch and followed by some great speeches from the likes of Dr Mike Boyes, Ross Meder and Andrew Leslie, it was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the past 50 years and take stock of everything the MSC has achieved over this period.
Media releasesThe MSC regularly puts out media releases following incidents in the outdoors or encouraging people to stay safe. You can read them in the ‘Media’ section of our website, or keep an eye on our Facebook page.
New staff for 2016We look forward to welcoming several new staff early next year, all of whom we’re confident will be valuable additions to the MSC team. Once they’re on board they’ll no doubt have a lot to do with our partners and member organisations, so watch this space!
outdoor intentions on your deviceThe online Outdoor Intentions form has had a bit of a facelift, making it easier to use on a mobile device or tablet. While we don’t encourage people to rely on mobile device as a rescue communicatoin device, it can be handy for trip preparation. Try it out!
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“We thought encouraging families to get out and explore some of what New Zealand has to offer this summer was a great way to celebrate 50 years of keeping people safe in the outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to get our safety messages in front of people, including families – who are making up an increasing proportion of the three million people who access the outdoors in New Zealand at least once a year.”
“ We thought encouraging families to get out and explore some of what New Zealand has to offer this summer was a great way to celebrate 50 years of keeping people safe in the outdoors.”
He encouraged people to check out the five simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code – plan your trip, tell someone, be aware of the weather, know your limits and take sufficient supplies – before heading out on their adventures. To check out the interactive map, to enter the competition or for more information on how to stay safe in the outdoors this summer, visit www.mountainsafety.org.nz.
From the Waitakere Ranges’ Fairy Falls to the Invincible Gold Mine Track in Glenorchy, there is something for everyone in the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC)’s 50 favourite family outdoor experiences released today, just in time for the summer holidays.
MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley said the 50 favourites make up an eclectic mix and will appeal to all ages and levels of fitness. “The experiences cover destinations right across New Zealand, from beach trails and forest walks to hot pools and mountain hikes. It is perfect for families planning their next outdoors experience. “There are so many spectacular places to discover in New Zealand. Regardless of how extensively people have travelled the country, there are bound to be sights in our 50 favourites they haven’t yet visited. With summer holidays just around the corner, now is a great time to get out and explore some of these places.” An interactive map on the MSC website showcases each of the destinations, along with a short description of what makes it special. The website also includes important tips on how to stay safe when enjoying the outdoors. The diverse collection of some of New Zealand’s best family outdoor adventures includes places such as Cleopatra’s Pool, a beautiful rock pool complete with a natural, moss-lined waterslide in the Abel Tasman National Park; the East Coast’s Panekire Bluffs, with their magnificent views of Lake Waikaremoana and the surrounding mountains; the Tangoio Falls Scenic Reserve tracks in Hawkes’ Bay; and the Punakaiki Cavern in Paparoa National Park. The MSC is running a competition to coincide with the release of the 50 favourites, inviting people to share their favourite New Zealand outdoor spot and top safety tip. Participants can win an outdoor adventure pack valued at over $500. Mr Daisley said the 50 favourite family outdoor experiences were compiled to coincide with the MSC’s 50th anniversary.
Explore the outdoors with MSC’s 50 favourite family experiences
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Visit our website to
find out how you can share your favourite New Zealand outdoor spot and top tip for
staying safe before Friday 1 April 2016
to go in the draw to win an outdoor adventure pack, worth more than $500.
BE IN TO WIN!
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See them all with our checklist at the back of this publication!
Make sure you click on the safety tips and videos to see more outdoor safety tips.
Click the locations to see more detail
Visit the DoC website and local i-SITES as part of preparing for your trip.
Our online map
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR TRIP?Can you answer the questions in our outdoor activity guides?
Check the MSC’s Facebook page regularly, as we post one of the 50 Favourites every few days.
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Disclaimer and submission guidelines:all efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but no responsibility will be taken by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council for errors or inaccuracies or for any consequences of reliance on this information.
if you have any feedback, ideas or items that you would like to submit for consideration please email: [email protected]
publication is not guaranteed and the editor’s decision is final. also available to view online at www.iSSu.com/nzmountainsafetycouncil
YOUR CUT OUT AND KEEP MASTER OUTDOORS INTENTIONS FORM - VISIT WWW.ADVENTURESMART.ORG.NZ TO FIND OUT MORE
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41. Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill
42. Hooker Valley Track, Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park
Clothing doesn’t create heat – the right fabrics keep in the heat your body makes.
otago
43. Blue Pools Walk, Haast Pass
44. Bannockburn Walks
45. Otago Rail Trail
46. Invincible Gold Mine Track, Glenorchy
fiordland
47. Stockyard Cove Track, Te Anau
southland
48. Nugget Point Walk, The Catlins
49. Purakaunui Falls Walk, The Catlins
stewart island
50. Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Walking Tracks
marlborough
25. French Pass Lookout Track
26. Queen Charlotte Walkway
nelson
27. Wharariki Beach Walk, Golden Bay
28. Cleopatra’s Pool, Abel Tasman
29. Riwaka Resurgance Walk, Motueka
30. Sylvester Hut Track, Kahurangi National Park
west coast
31. Oparara Basin and Caves, Karamea
32. Lyell Cemetery Walk
33. Punakaiki Cavern, Paparoa National Park
34. Lake Matheson Walk, Fox Glacier area
Take sensible footware as sections of tracks can be rugged.
canterbury
35. Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
36. Mountain Biking in Hanmer Forest Park
37. Cannibal Gorge walk, Lewis Pass
38. Devils Punchbowl, Arthur’s Pass
39. Banks Peninsula to Packhorse Hut
40. Oxford Forest Walking Tracks
waikato
13. Te Waihou Walkway, Putaruru
Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. That way they know when to raise the alarm if you’re not back.
14. Tarawera Falls Track, Rotorua
15. Kerosene Creek, Rotorua
central plateau
16. Spa Park to Huka Falls Walk, Taupo
17. Aratiatia Rapids tracks, Taupo
hawkes bay
18. Tangoio Falls Scenic Reserve Tracks
taranaki
19. Wilkies Pools Loop Track
whanganui
20. Te Maire Loop Track
wairarapa
21. Patuna Chasm Walk, Martinborough
22. Putangirua Pinnacles Walk
If you’re not experienced, select tracks that use bridges to avoid crossing rivers.
wellington
23. Makara Peak
24. Red Rocks Pari-whero South Coast Walk
north island south island
northland
01. Scott Point Twilight Beach Track, Cape Reinga
02. Mermaid Pools, Matapouri
auckland
03. Fairy Falls, Waitakere Ranges
04. Omanawanui Track, Waitakere Ranges
05. Cossey - Massey Loop Walk, Huna Ranges
coromandel
06. Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk)
Do you need to book your hut in advance? Check DOC’s website!
07. Cathedral Cove Walk
08. Karangahake Gorge
09. New Chums Beach
bay of plenty
10. Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
11. Lake Waikaremoana: Panekire Bluffs, Te Urewera
12. Lake Waikareiti Walk, Te Urewera
Take a 5 minute break every hour, and more frequently if you have children. Use these as opportunities to have a drink and refuel, and check in to see how everyone’s doing.
New Zealand is full of unbelievably beautiful places to places to discover. Visit our website to find out how you can share your favourite New Zealand outdoor spot and top tip for staying safe before Friday 1 April 2016 to go in the draw to win an outdoor adventure pack, worth more than $500.
Where do you go?
1 Plan your trip 2 Tell someone 3 Be aware of the weather 4 Know your limits 5 Take sufficient supplies
Discover more places and how to plan for your trip with our online map on our website.
Use this checklist to help inspire you to discover more of New Zealand’s outdoors.
Explore the outdoors with msc’s 50 favourite family experiencesUse this checklist help inspire you to discover more of New Zealand’s outdoors.Safer placeS, Safer activitieS, Safer people
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council recommends finding out more about any of the activities you are considering, including track conditions and suitability for everyone in your group (eg, babies, young children, those with limited fitness or mobility), as part of responsible trip planning.