Leading the Way: 100 Years Of the Tararua Tramping Club

Tramping an odd form of recreation:
When Willie Field and Fred Vosseler founded the Tararua Tramping Club (TTC) in 1919, they began a century of organised tramping in New Zealand. In 1919, most people viewed tramping as an odd form of recreation. Today tramping has become one of New Zealand’s most popular leisure pursuits.

The club also fostered climbing, embraced skiing and encouraged women to participate in all these activities. And its leaders encouraged the formation of other clubs throughout the country. For many, the TTC became ‘family’, it was a place that generously welcomed everyone.

A century of organised tramping in New Zealand
By drawing people together in the social atmosphere of the clubrooms and in the mountains of New Zealand and overseas, the TTC fostered many life-long bonds, friendships and marriages. Within the context of 100 years of organised tramping in New Zealand, Chris Maclean and Shaun Barnett, authors of 'Leading the way', will discuss:
- how the club formed
- why it was a success, and
- how it set a model for other clubs to follow.

About the speakers:
Shaun Barnett grew up in the hills of Hawke’s Bay, worked for the Department of Conservation, then became a freelance writer and photographer. His 'Classic Tramping' in New Zealand, co-authored with Rob Brown (1999) won a Montana Book Award. Between 2008 and 2018, Barnett also edited the Federated Mountain Club’s magazine, 'Backcountry'.

Chris Maclean learnt to tramp in the Wellington hills and later wrote 'Tararua: the Story of a Mountain Range' (1994). Its success encouraged him to become a full-time writer, after years working as a stained-glass artist. His book 'Kapiti' (1999), won a Montana Book Award.