May 2026 news

Tramp booking system changes in July…

Users can see a few changes to the booking sheet format for trips in the second half of this year. We’ve improved the form and introduced protected fields (they protect the coloured bits you were advised not to touch).

From July, clicking on the green and yellow sections will have no effect – apart from showing a helpful alert message. This should prevent the most common unforced errors.

You’ll still have to make sure your name is entered correctly, without any space after the surname – and that dreaded + sign at the bottom of the form still needs to be avoided at all costs.

… and a wee website tweak

Our Recent Trips sidebar used to show just three of them, and because we have unlimited available space, that number has been increased to six – so we now highlight more than a month’s worth of outings there.

If you have an idea for making the website even better, please get in touch, using the Contact form or by emailing a committee member. All suggestions are welcome!

Wilding pine update

Graham Leach reports: The next trip will be a familiar location to many who have helped before, but may be somewhere exciting and new for those who haven’t joined us yet. We will be heading to the Kaweka Lakes to go over areas we have previously visited. It is vital to go back to previously visited areas as the pines have a habit of popping up just when we are not looking.

The date for this trip is Thursday 14 May. We will meet outside Omahu Urupā / Cemetery as usual (leaving any cars on the opposite side of the road) at 7.50am for an 8am departure. We’re normally back (happy and tired) to the cars at around 3pm. Remember to bring a range of clothing, as the weather can be unpredictable – warm clothes, beanie, gloves, raincoat and sunscreen.

Please contact HB Wilding Pine Control at alexia.morgans@pb08.wixemails.com or call Alan on 027 539 6278 by Monday 11 May if you’re keen to join in. If you know others who are interested, they can sign up on the HB Wilding Pine Control website.at https://www.hbwildingpinecontrol.org.nz

Future diary dates: 17 June and 14 July.

Track closures

Some tracks and car parks in the Kaweka Forest Park were closed from 15 February. The closures may be in effect for up to five months. Details, including a map, are here

Ruahine User Group

Please see the February meeting minutes of the Ruahine Users Group. Julia, our club representative, was unable to attend this meeting.

Predator control in the northern Ruahines

The latest phase of DoC’s predator control operation in the northern Ruahines began in early February. You can get the details here. The department says that warning signs will be placed at all normal points of entry to the operation prior to the application of 1080 bait and that the carcasses of poisoned animals pose a significant risk to dogs for several months after the operation. Warning signs will remain in place until this risk has passed.

Owners of PLBs: Please read this!

New guidance applies to anyone taking their own PLB on a club tramp.

The club’s PLBs link the national Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) to our group’s contact, Brian Mackie. They immediately call him if a club PLB is triggered, to ascertain group numbers, names and so on. When Brian is alerted by the RCC, he tries to contact friends and relatives about the incident and keeps them updated.

But if a tramp member sets off their own beacon, the RCC will only contact the emergency person named for that PLB.

It’s now essential that, before you go tramping, you advise your emergency PLB contact that, if your PLB is activated on a club tramp and they receive a call from the RCC, they should:

• Answer all questions, and then
• Tell the RCC caller that this is a Napier Tramping Club event and that they should also contact Brian Mackie on 021 613 914 for further information about the party.