Wilderness October 2021

I’M THE KIND of person who eschews the limelight, so when I started thinking about Wilderness’s 30th anniversary, my gut instinct was to opt for a low-key way to mark the milestone. A few stories in the magazine should suffice. But it wasn’t long before I also realised that everyone who loves Wilderness, from staff and contributors to readers and advertisers, deserve more. It’s not every day a magazine turns 30. Indeed, it wasn’t that long ago that print was deemed ‘dead’. The rise of the Internet and social media was set to deliver the final blow to a medium in decline. I still meet people today who show surprise when I tell them I work in print media. Shouldn’t you be looking for work elsewhere, they say – though…

I’M THE KIND of person who eschews the limelight, so when I started thinking about Wilderness’s 30th anniversary, my gut instinct was to opt for a low-key way to mark the milestone. A few stories in the magazine should suffice. But it wasn’t long before I also realised that everyone who loves Wilderness, from staff and contributors to readers and advertisers, deserve more. It’s not every day a magazine turns 30. Indeed, it wasn’t that long ago that print was deemed ‘dead’. The rise of the Internet and social media was set to deliver the final blow to a medium in decline. I still meet people today who show surprise when I tell them I work in print media. Shouldn’t you be looking for work elsewhere, they say – though not…

FEES IN NATIONAL PARKS Dave Bamford’s comments raised some concerns for me (‘Is tourism’s time up in our national parks’, September 2021). While I support a reasonable amount of user pays if the money goes where intended, the last thing we need is more bureaucracy, red tape and impractical obstacles impinging on our enjoyment of the outdoors at whatever life stage we’re at. In planning to avoid past problems on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or at Milford Sound, those in charge must identify the objective and keep the solution simple and focussed. Power and revenue-collecting ability over our public treasures must never be given to anyone without the necessary competence, strict and recognised parameters, and consideration of the ability for Kiwis to challenge and make changes. The solutions must make things better, not worse,…

FEES IN NATIONAL PARKS Dave Bamford’s comments raised some concerns for me (‘Is tourism’s time up in our national parks’, September 2021). While I support a reasonable amount of user pays if the money goes where intended, the last thing we need is more bureaucracy, red tape and impractical obstacles impinging on our enjoyment of the outdoors at whatever life stage we’re at. In planning to avoid past problems on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or at Milford Sound, those in charge must identify the objective and keep the solution simple and focussed. Power and revenue-collecting ability over our public treasures must never be given to anyone without the necessary competence, strict and recognised parameters, and consideration of the ability for Kiwis to challenge and make changes. The solutions must make…

Get your photo published here to receive a Victorinox Escort keyring pocket knife worth $22. Learn more about Victorinox at e.ampro.co.nz. ARE YOU DOING THE WALK1200KM CHALLENGE? We want to see where you’re logging your miles. See wildernessmag.co.nz/lastweekend for submission criteria.…

Get your photo published here to receive a Victorinox Escort keyring pocket knife worth $22. Learn more about Victorinox at e.ampro.co.nz. ARE YOU DOING THE WALK1200KM CHALLENGE? We want to see where you’re logging your miles. See wildernessmag.co.nz/lastweekend for submission criteria.…