Caring for our taonga at Kura Tāwhiti Castle Hill
The world-class bouldering areas in Castle Hill Basin are a great example of effective community engagement with a treasured climbing area.
The world-class bouldering areas in Castle Hill Basin are a great example of effective community engagement with a treasured climbing area.
Local climbers have been proactive over many years to minimise their impact where possible, develop positive relationships with the landowners, and find ways to give back.
Climber Niccolo Ceria on Interstallar Overdrive, Flock Hill. Photo: Tom Hoyle.
What really stands out in the Basin is the community’s effort to do their best in caring for the boulders and surrounding environment. The limestone boulders are relatively soft and can be quickly damaged by dirty climbing shoes and chalk. Leading local climbers have helped to instil an ethic of washing rock climbs to remove boot rubber and chalk after climbing, aiming to maintain the rock in good condition and reduce the impact of climbing on it. It would be great to see similar ethics spread to other crags around the motu.
Leading local climbers make a difference
Erica Gatland (former ACAT trustee) recently organised two successful pine-pulling days at Flock, with dozens of climbers removing over 17,000 wilding trees from near the boulders. The NZAC Canterbury-Westland Section has also run several pine-pulling days around the boulders in recent years.
Erin Stewart (ACAT trustee) and Derek Thatcher have established and run the fantastic resource castlehillbasin.co.nz, and play a significant role in maintaining positive relationships with the landowners.
Part of ACAT’s role is to help enable and empower the wider climbing access movement, working alongside and supporting local clubs and individuals. Many crags lack the care and attention that Castle Hill has received, but when the community works together, we can create more great stories like this. Sign up for a monthly or yearly donation today to get involved.