[Tritonio]

Some flexibility in interpretation of the wilderness policy is evident. The historic Rua’s Track (named after the prophet Rua Kenana) will continue to be maintained. This runs through the Ruakituri Wilderness Area and past Anini Clearing—some three hectares of grassland with scattered beech trees, where horses and cattle using the track were once grazed overnight. Also within the wilderness area is an unofficial hut built of ponga logs in the 1950s, known as Tui Flat Hut, which is in a habitable condition. It has a hutbook, axe, fireplace and billys, and sleeps two. here

[Mark Petrov]

A tramper climbs the ridge near Mt Kelvin in the Paparoa Wilderness Area, which was established in 2002. Yet despite existing for nearly 15 years, few people looking up from the town of Westport over the distant mountains realise that it is an official wilderness area. here

[Matthias Vance]

Geoff Spearpoint lives at Birdlings Flat, where the Pacific eats away at Canterbury’s cobbled shores. His great love is the mountains and he has edited Moir’s Guide North, the tramper’s bible of route guides.

[simplesharp]

But wilderness areas are not virgin—they have weeds, rats, mice, stoats and possums, trout, deer, tahr, chamois as well as kiwi, kea, blue duck and wild landscapes, and people who choose to go there on the country’s terms.

here

[helg]

Theodore Roosevelt was part of the ‘wilderness cult’ movement, which culminated in the formation of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872. He wanted to ensure that there would be opportunities for future generations of ‘frontiersmen’ such as Kit Carson, ‘Grizzly’ Adams and Hugh Glass.

[coonyeben]

Olaus Murie looked down on the roofs of Auckland as the plane banked. Ahead lay islands—Fiji, then Hawaii, across the Pacific to his Wyoming ranch. On that 1949 flight, his thoughts turned to home, where battles to preserve wild lands were succeeding beyond expectation. Murie, the president of America’s Wilderness Society, had spent seven months touring the wilds of New Zealand with wife Mardy and 17-year-old son Donald. In that time, he had been accused of being a communist, and trying to steal the newly rediscovered takahē.

[molecular]

Communications: Cell phone coverage cannot be relied upon in this region. The use of satellite phones, mountain radios or personal locator beacons can all provide increased personal safety. here

[mike]

Fire: Fire restrictions apply to all public conservation land. Check with local information centres or DOC for the current fire status. here

[dishwara]

Day walkers and overnight trampers need to plan properly and be well equipped. The NZTopo50 map sheet CA14 Lindis Pass is recommended. 

[Marlo]

Hunting is confined to public conservation land. As Longslip, Breast Hill and Dalrachney stations border this land it is important that hunters confirm the status of the area in which they intend to hunt. Hunters need to obtain a hunting permit from the local DOC office. Hunting in Twizel Te Manahuna area. here

[Belly]

In summer, very hot and dry conditions are common. Make sure you carry plenty of water and have adequate protection against the sun. Alpine conditions may be experienced at any time of the year, with the higher country subject to snow and ice during the winter months.

[LuciferUA]

Tramping huts are comfortable and it is everyone's responsibility to keep them tidy.

[Eivind Nag]

Many of New Zealand’s walkways and trails are marked with orange triangles or poles to help you find your way. While these are useful, you should never rely on them completely. Sometimes markers are missing, or there are several trails in one area and you can get onto the wrong one without noticing. It is always a good idea to have a proper map of the area where you are hiking, and a compass to help you find your way.

[jimcramer]

Hypothermia is a potentially fatal condition where the body temperature drops after exposure to the cold, especially in wet and windy conditions. The symptoms of hypothermia are feeling cold, shivering, tiredness, lethargy or anxiety, clumsiness, slurred speech and difficulty seeing, a sense of unreality, and irrational behaviour (which can include removing warm clothes!). If anyone in your group experiences these symptoms, find shelter, change them into dry clothes, give warm, sweet drinks, and lie them on their side.

[jimmythebum]

There are over 1200 public and private huts scattered around New Zealand and there would not be a district in the whole country that does not have a few. here

[Randallromans8]

The FMC has turned a focus on these 'Forgotten Lands' as demands to use them have increased over the years. There have been several large mines built on Stewardship Land as well as over 15 proposals to build new hydro/irrigation dams, new roads and requests to exploit virgin forests for timber.

[qaz22]

The Garvie Range is likely to become a part of the proposed Remarkable National Park while both the Kaimanawa/Kaweka and Waitutu proposals have faced criticism from some groups who would still like to be able to fly into these areas. They may all eventually become Wilderness Areas but for the moment they are stuck in limbo.

[kathlemith24]

One of the assumed roles of the FMC is advocacy for this land so they have a number of ongoing projects to have the land legally protected under the overall umbrella of the Forgotten Lands Campaign. This campaign is meant to bring public attention onto these areas and hopefully to kick start some sort of process for designating them.

[Johnsmiths]

There are some damn fancy bivouacs out there like East Hawdon shown below and there are some real horrors but what all of them provide is basic shelter from the elements. here