So many competent New Zealand climbers came out of Otago, and it
is interesting to look back at the origins of mountaineering in
Otago, and wider afield so see why ? The N.Z. Alpine Club,
formed in 1891, was the first organised mountain club in New
Zealand. Several more were formed early last century,
particularly after the First World War--the Tararua Tramping
Club in 1919, The Otago Tramping & Mountaineering Club in 1923
and the Auckland Tramping Club in 1925. In Canterbury, a
Christchurch Tramping & Mountaineering Club was formed in 1925.
Later its male members formed the Canterbury Mountaineering
Club. With the Southern Alps well traversed regularly by Maori
in search of Greenstone, food and for the general draw of what
lays over the ridge, early New Zealand mountaineers and trampers
generally ignored a lot of information available in Maori
records and folklore. Here is an extract from my article on
Maori mountaineers of South Westland.
http://bobmckerrow.blogspot.com/2008/03/maori-mountaineers-of-
south-w