It's already February, but since this is the first edition for 2011, Happy New Year. Welcome too, to a number of new readers who supplied their email addresses to the NZFWDA.
There is a note further on, to remind members of the Auckland based AGM in May and of course the various zone AGM's will happen before then. Consideration will be needed to given to who will be standing for election to the various officer roles. I'm going to step away from being 'hands on' within the NZFWDA, which will mean an opportunity for someone to take on this editor role, amongst other things (please form an orderly queue).
It is 14 years that I've been a part of the National Executive Council and along the way have knocked heads with a number of members, but I like to think that the NZFWDA is much stronger and politically better placed than it was in 1997.
There are however still a number of members who seem to struggle to comprehend that our recreation is a minority activity and we need the acceptance, or at least the tolerance of the wider public. NZFWDA members or not, the actions of a few can define in the public mind what four wheeling represents.
With over 1/3 of NZ administered by DoC, we need to have a working relationship with them wherever possible. It's much more effective to be 'with' them rather than adversarial. It can be necessary to challenge DoC decisions, as we have done for the 42nd Traverse and other places. In every case, we have needed to be able to show that 4x4 recreational use can be regarded as sustainable, within the relevant environment.
We must also respect all land ownership and management, which means ensuring that permission is granted for use of land. Anything else is not acceptable.
Peter Vahry
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Maratoto, a challenge itself!
Maratoto, the OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) trail on conservation land in the southern Coromandel, reopened for use for the New Year.
The planned maintenance took longer than anticipated with a wet Winter delaying essential blasting and then once the hired digger did get onto the trail, it was beset with some mechanical problems that created extra delays. That machine was replaced and most of the planned work was accomplished, but with the delays, the window of good weather was replaced by rain. That meant it was not safe to drive the digger out on the narrow and often rocky trail. It sat for ten days and finally was able to be moved on 23 December but fate had not finished with us, as it threw a track off less than one kilometre from the gate and skewed over the edge. Not completely fortunately, but very precarious and damned scary for the operator!
Salvage required a D6 bulldozer with a winch that was transported from a neighbouring valley and the 'dozer owner stopped what he was doing over 100km away and came to assist. Mechanics were needed from Hamilton to replace the track. However at lunchtime on Xmas Eve I got a call to say that the digger was safely on a transporter.
The bills however are still coming in and it was not a cheap exercise despite some generous price cutting by all involved.
The person with the greatest contribution was Ces Horan, who spent over 10 days driving the digger up on the trail and re-adjusted his plans to ensure that the work was done and that the digger was driven out as soon as conditions would allow. All that as a volunteer!
It was over three years since such maintenance had been done and way back in '97 it had been identified that a reasonable annual budget for maintenance would be $1600. At the time of writing the total cost for 2010 is looking like $6400.
Northern zone have paid $1925. If the $1300 in the CRVLAC account is added, along with another $1000 from the zone as budgeted, there will be around $2000 for the NZFWDA to find. Some negotiation on costs is still occurring.
Peter Vahry
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NZFWDA insurances
www.nzfwda.org.nz/membership/insurance/
A great benefit provided by the NZFWDA, is the insurance. It is a benefit that we need to protect too, so it is vital that activities are truly those of our clubs. If you've a question, then just email the
NZFWDA secretary.
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NZFWDA and SPARC Most members will be aware that for some time NZFWDA has been working towards recognition as a National Sports or Recreation Organization.
The formal application was submitted to Sport and recreation New Zealand (SPARC) on 18th April 2010. Since that time there have been repeated delays by SPARC, specifically relating
to a review of the recognition criteria. So far, there had been not progress made and we have sought additional information on why it was taking so long to process our application. We have also asked for a copy of the report into the review of the recognition criteria.
At the time of writing we had received no reply. A complaint to the Minister of Sport and Recreation has been prepared, but not sent as yet.
Watch this space for further updates. Tony Burgess
Northern Zone President |
Conservation Board nomination
Nominations are now open for 2011. The
period for receiving nominations closes on 18 February 2011. Get the information here
Anybody can be nominated for membership of a conservation board.
You can be nominated by a friend, an organisation, trust, committee,
club, or by an iwi, hapu or runanga, or you can nominate yourself.
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Third Party 4x4 Insurance
A unique Third Party policy set up to protect members out on club activities. The annual policy runs from Dec to Dec which means now is a good time to buy it, at a cost of $50.
The Auckland 4WD Club invites, as usual, other NZFWDA members to utilise this policy to protect themselves against claims.
It does not provide cover 'on main roads' and only covers activities that are organised by a 4WD club.
For more information click here.
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NZFWDA 2011 Conference and AGM 28-29 May
Make sure it is in your diary.... the Waipuna Conference Centre, by Auckland's Panmure Basin, on Sat 28th & Sun 29th May 2011. A format to encourage members to attend, is being worked on, with options of keynote speakers, workshops, general speakers, trade displays and sponsors.
The venue is not far from the large Sylvia Park shopping mall. Check the map.
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Today In Childrearing: Workshop Teaches Kids In L.A. How To Hotwire CarsMachine Project's 'Good People Doing Bad Things' workshop for kids
When we were kids, there were lots of things we weren't allowed to
do: ride our bikes on the highway, play with guns, eat dessert before
dinner. And, of course, steal cars. For today's rugrats, though, it's a
whole new world. |
Round 3 National 4x4 Trial
by Gail Osman
The Round 3 National 4x4 Trial was held at Matata on 30th Jan, supported by Olsen Rural Contractors Ltd. With a horrendous few days weather-wise before the Trial, they still had a relatively good turnout of approx 63 vehicles and the day was an absolute stunner. It was hot as and a bloody long way to traipse up hills for spectators, with not much in the way of shade. The other missing thing were the rubbish bins.
An 8.30 start, oops.. it was actually 9.30 and the drivers were all rearing to go. The obstacles were all about pushing your nerve and I was amazed to see many of the top drivers take a conservative approach and take a 60 or 80, rather than roll and do damage - so that tells you the calibre of the obstacles..... and how difficult it could be for A and E classes. Some horrendous rolls, one in particular put paid to Dave Hintz early, the final straw in a challenging weekend for him. Although the ground was soft, if you fell it wasn't going to be pretty and try as you might, if you didn't have the right momentum and line, down, down, down, with the marshals yelling at you to stop!
The morning round became drawn out with the bog having them all line up patiently, but for many the lunchtime was like a 2 hr stop and they were itching to go with many needing to finish at an acceptable time so that they could go home to work the next day, which meant 5+ hours of driving. The afternoon got underway after 2pm, but one wonders how the course passes inspection, as they put pegs in during the afternoon, just prior to the guys starting and then had them driving through a hazard to another. It seems people need to read the rule book more carefully. As the afternoon wore on, they cancelled 3 obstacles due to time frames, but many had vehicles lined up waiting as the time crept on.
I was thrilled to see Ian and Jenni Templeton drive obstacle No 14 as if it was a walk in the park. After I'd seen the look on Ian's face when he walked up and looked at it, I was sure he wouldn't get around the tree, but he proved me wrong to the delight of the crowd. That put the pressure on the rest as many had got caught in the tree prior to that, or got the bog horribly wrong. The other bit of great driving was by Mitch Seymour who got the right angle on No 7 and with no hesitation mastered the sidling at the top after clearing the jump off the track to coast down between the blues. Not many would have got off the track at the beginning, although this was where Dave had rolled and he had climbed off the track and was on his way down when it turned to custard with a hell of a thump.
The D'Ath boys had a bit of a loss on a downhill at an angle and did a fair bit of damage to the front. There were some great saves, but just as many mishaps and the damage would have been more about CV's and axles, as well as panel and pride.
A late finish, but great to catch up with the competitors and their crews. You make good friends from being at events, so see you at the next one, just at the bottom of the Kaimai's on Sat 19th Feb, starting at 8.30am. For more info check out www.4x4trials.co.nz/calendar/rd4
and for photos of the last few Trials www.justphotos.co.nz to see the action you missed.
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