Whanganui Bay website rebuilt with support from ACAT and Tūpiki Trust

We want to extend a massive thanks to Derek, who built the original website on a voluntary basis and has quietly maintained it ever since. 

We are now celebrating the opening of the fourth rock climbing season in a row, and this is a quick reminder of the effort that many people put in to make each season possible. A peek behind the scenes:  

• The Whanganui Bay website is hosted on an ACAT subdomain and integrates our payment processing system. Besides a small contribution to bank fees and overheads, ACAT passes all registration fees on to the Whanganui Bay Māori Reservation Trust. 
• Marlon Hepi continues to champion the future of climbing at the Bay and to connect us with the Reservation Trust Board and the wider hapū. 
• John Palmer is an endless advocate for the ‘best crag in the world’ and has worked tirelessly to build and maintain climber – hapū relationships, including by telling you off if you don’t follow the rules!  
• We’re working toward a vision of a strong, mutually beneficial relationship between climbers and Ngāti Te Maunga hapū, including fundraising to help rebuild the washed-out access road in 2022, and helping John and Marlon bring back the much-loved Ngāi Kake RockFest in 2024.  
• You, the climbing community, have consistently stepped up and done your part by registering and paying for visits, following the access rules, looking after the routes, and engaging with members of the hapū. Your commitment to being responsible guests has been impressive and is 100% the reason that more climbing seasons have been possible since 2022. Tautoko! 

As always, we are most grateful to Ngāti Te Maunga for inviting us to visit their home and whenua.