CSC Bunkum #1 2024 - Dates, subs, work parties, farewell to a founding member
April 3 2024
The first bunkum for 2024 and the good news is RAL have confirmed that "we are officially all on for Winter 2024" and that season passes will go on sale this month. The Christie committee has met twice already this year and planning for the season is well underway. While dates for quite a few of the regular mountain events are still to be confirmed, we do have firm dates for the Christie Derby (Aug 10), Mens and Ladies Few Days (Aug 11-13 and 25-27), and the Christie Club Races (Sep 28). Please keep your eye on our calendar - dates will be entered once confirmed.
Subscription invoices will be sent out over the next few weeks. Please let me know asap if your, or your family's, membership details have changed. Are your juniors still juniors? Do you have family members that are in tertiary education and could benefit from Tertiary membership? Are last year's Tertiary members still eligible? It saves a lot of time if this info is processed before invoices are generated.
We're always looking for new members so we're asking you to spread the Christie message. Word of mouth works well for a club like ours and we love to welcome friends of friends!
The normal pre season Provisioning Work Party has proved difficult to schedule in the last few years as we're dependent on helicopter drops to transport provisions to the lodge. Weather and availability etc. means timings of these are usually only confirmed a few days ahead. As we only need a small number of people to move the supplies into the lodge, we aren't asking for a huge number of volunteers at this stage. However, if you're flexible and may be able to make it to the lodge on a couple of days' notice, please contact Steve McLennan at president@skichristie.co.nz
The pre season Cleanup Work Party will be held on the weekend of June 22-23. This is where we give the lodge a comprehensive top to bottom clean and prepare for winter. Juniors are welcome! Please let me know if you'd like to help out - membership@skichristie.co.nz. Remember, work party attendance exempts you from the Work Party levy in your annual subs – a saving of $200 per Senior member.
You may have seen a recent picture of the lodge's new INTAKS Scaffolding and Edge Protection system in action on our Facebook page. No more teetering on high ladders while working on higher sections! Thanks to member Peter Chapman, MD at INTAKS - this is a great addition to our maintenance equipment.
Christiania archives - the committee is in the process of arranging for the club collection of archive documents to be donated to Hamilton City Library. Our records will be digitized with the originals securely stored and preserved. Records will become available for public viewing (material such as personal information is restricted). We will share online links once available, likely to be later this year or early 2025. If you have any club records you think are of interest, please contact me at membership@skichristie.co.nz and I will put you in touch with Bryan Clements who is overseeing this project. Thanks to Doug Downs for his recent donation – those records will be included in this digital archive.
A sad note to finish - we acknowledge the passing of Ewen Christie, one of the founders of Christiania and first President, late last year. We owe Ewen, and other founding members, a huge debt for their vision and years of work establishing the club and lodge. They're responsible for what we enjoy today. Here's an obituary provided by Ewen's son, Alasdair:
Ewen Christie was born in Waipukurau 19.11.1924, and died in Auckland 21.12.2023 aged 99.
He studied architecture in Christchurch, worked for the housing department in Wellington (a great training ground) after World War II, during which he served briefly in the Air Force in the Solomon Islands.
Ewen married Ailsa McKenzie in Wellington in 1954, then shifted to Hamilton, which was their first home for a couple of years. During that time they became great friends of the Meltzer family, and it was while driving back from Whakapapa in the winter of 1954 with Neil Meltzer in Neil's father Sam's car that the idea of Christiania Ski Club was conceived and set in motion. Following a series of public meetings that year Christiania was formed, with Ewen as the Club's first president and Ailsa as the first interim secretary. Ewen designed the club, helped fundraise & find a spot at Whakapapa. The funds were successfully raised, a site on Whakapapa obtained, building materials carried to the site and the club was underway. The first annual report recorded that the year ended with money in the bank, so a success. This was then followed by numerous working bees with everyone providing different skills, without which there would not be a club.
Ewen & Ailsa shifted to Taupo two years later where Ewen had his own architectural practice, Ewen Christie & Associates. Ewen was involved with many building projects on Ruapehu including the RAL workers accommodation behind the Chateau, a major alteration of the Chateau conference facilities and a number of other club buildings on Whakapapa. In the surrounding area Ewen designed a number of public, institutional, corporate and residential buildings including the workers camp for the Italian tunnellers working on the Tongariro power scheme in the 1960's and in 1961 the Taupo Fire Station, a very visible part of the Taupo landscape for anyone on the way to Ruapehu.
Ewen followed this with a varied commercial architectural practice with Murray North Partners in Rotorua, semi retirement in Nelson which included a major piece of work for Nelson City Council on managing the historic architectural character of Nelson's buildings, and recently retirement in Auckland close to family.
While Ewen moved from Hamilton he never lost his connection with Whakapapa, the Club or the many people involved with that great pastime – skiing on Whakapapa.
Ewen and Ailsa Christie at Whakapapa in the 1950s
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CSC Bunkum #2 2024 - Passes, Supplies, Work Party, Invoices
May 6, 2024
A quick update on the state of play as we approach the 2024 season.
Whakapapa is all go and you're probably aware that season passes are now on sale - you can see the various options here. Season passes for under 10s are free until May 15. Great news for our families with young children! You might want to follow the Whakapapa Facebook page.
The pre-season food and firewood lift ran on April 24. A small bunch of the Christie faithful were on hand to ferry supplies into the lodge - Steve McLennan, Mark and Sean Young, Andrew Hart, Bart van der Bijl and Pedro Smith - thanks guys! Also brought up was the dishwasher, back to 100% functionality, phew!
Thanks to those who have registered for the Pre-Season Work Party (June 22 & 23). There's still space, with lots to do, and many hands make light work. If you can attend, please let me know - membership@skichristie.co.nz. Juniors are welcome and, remember, work party attendance exempts you from the Work Party levy in your annual subs – a saving of $200 per Senior member.
It's subs invoicing time! Invoices will be sent out over the next week. We would appreciate prompt payment of these invoices as this covers many of the lodge set up costs for the season. For those of you intending to attend the Pre-Season Work Party, the credits for this work party won't appear on your invoice, but anyone who attends will be refunded the amount shortly after June 23.
The booking system is unavailable while we generate invoices - it will open again towards the end of May, exact timings will be communicated via a Bunkum. If you wish to do an off-season visit you'll need to contact our Booking Officer, Jenny Muir, directly on bookings@skichristie.co.nz
A correction to Bunkum #1 - the Christie Derby will run on Saturday August 10
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CSC Bunkum #3 2024 - Subs invoices have been sent
May 13, 2024
Subscription invoices for 2024 have been sent to all members - if you haven't received yours please contact me asap - membership@skichristie.co.nz - (it might be worth checking your Junk or Spam folders first - invoices were sent May 6 - 10). Many thanks to those who have already paid - we appreciate your prompt payment.
The booking system will open in June, exact dates and details of any restrictions, priority periods etc, will be communicated by Bunkum. Remember - if you haven't paid your invoice, you won't be able to make bookings.
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CSC Bunkum #4 2024 - We're about to open for bookings, event dates - and lots more!
5 June, 2024
It's starting to feel like winter and we're getting closer to season opening. Whakapapa have announced their opening dates, with the upper mountain open from July 13. As per normal, exactly what will be open at that time will be dependent on snow conditions. Our beloved custodians also take up residence around the same time, exact dates will be confirmed in a future Bunkum.
Thanks to all members who have paid their subscription invoices. The online booking system will open this week, with no restrictions, on Friday June 7. Accounts will be activated for all members who have paid their invoices. Remember - if you haven't paid your subs, you can't make a booking!
There's been some movement on the club committee, with resignations received from Rachel Ward and Danielle Rogers. Danielle has been club secretary for the last year, and Rachel has been a very hard working club captain for the last five years. We'd like to thank Rachel and Danielle for their commitment to the club, all the work they've done for us, and wish them all the best for the future!
We'd like to welcome the following new members:
Mary-Rose Cavanagh and Harvey White, with Jamie, Ari and Mila, from Auckland
Lesley Cavanagh from Auckland
Andrew Shaw, with Maggie and Esme, from Auckland
Paul Iggulden, with Leon and Tyler, from Hamilton
Ruby Poulter, from Hastings
Katherine Baynton, from Auckland
Welcome aboard - we look forward to seeing you with skis on or around the fire!
Can you believe it - this year Christiania turns 70! We're looking to update the club history to include items from the last 10 years. If you have any photos or stories of life at the lodge, or club events, you think would be of interest, please let me know - membership@skichristie.co.nz
Here's a message from our Club Captain, Vivian Oskam:
WANTED: JUNIOR CLUB CAPTAINS
Are you between 14 - 19? A ski enthusiast and a keen racer? Wanting to develop your leadership qualities?
What's the job about?
Running the Junior Weekend: organising fun games & activities in the snow and at night in the lodge, bonding the whole group of kids (with help of parents)
Leading keen skiers and boarders to race in inter club events (with adult support)
Supporting at events like Derby & Club Races
Being an example for our Juniors
Interested? We'd love you to apply - ideally we're looking for a boy and a girl. Send an email with your details and why you think you should get the job to: clubcaptain@skichristie.co.nz
Dates for a number of club and on mountain events have been finalised over the past couple of weeks - here's a snapshot, with a few supporting details:
Mid Winter Christmas - July 20 - a feast at the club to start the season off with a bang, well, a Christmas cracker anyway. Lots of fun for all the family. At great expense, Santa may even make an appearance.
Christie Derby - August 10 - for newer members who may not be familiar with Derby, it's the first in a series of inter-club races held at Whakapapa each year, normally attracting 150-200 entries, and free for club members. The highlight of the event for many is prizegiving and the after-match function held at the lodge in the evening. Please be aware, because of the after-match, Derby weekend is probably better suited to teenagers than youngsters.
The Haensli Cup - 24 August - "A race to find the fastest man and fastest woman on Mt Ruapehu. Hosted by the Ruapehu Ski Club for the last 50 years."
The Ngauruhoe Trophy Race - August 30/31
Rangatira Alpine Trophy - September 7 - "Rangatira's premier annual racing event, the Rangatira Alpine Trophy is part of the Mt Ruapehu Interclub Race Series and is raced by teams in open, masters, juniors, snow boarders and individual veterans (60+). The overall Rangatira Alpine Trophy is awarded to the fastest club on the mountain."
Christie Juniors Weekend - September 14 - this weekend is all about improving our junior members' skiing and making friends in the club with games-a-plenty in the evening for both kids and adults. This weekend usually fills up fast last year, so book early to get a spot.
Tongariro Juniors - September 15 (TBC) - an awesome event, open to under 18s only
Christie Club races - September 28 - a small and less formal event than the interclub races, open to club members only, with the emphasis on fun and participation. There are cups to be won!
Thanks to all who have put their hands up for the pre-season cleanup work party, June 22 & 23. It looks like there will be a good crew attending, but we can always use more. Juniors are welcome! Please let me know if you'd like to help out - membership@skichristie.co.nz. Remember, work party attendance exempts you from the Work Party levy in your annual subs – a saving of $200 per Senior member. If you've already paid your 2024 subs, this will be refunded.
It's just around the corner people! Time to dust off the gear and start planning your trips to the mountain.
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CSC Bunkum #5 2024 - The Booking System is open!
7 June, 2024
The Booking System is open! For paid up members, you should be able to access the system using the email address your subscription notices were sent to. Passwords have not changed, but can be reset from the logon page if forgotten.
New members - as you'll be logging in to the system for the first time, you'll need to click the Forgot Password? link to set a password. There's a basic guide to making bookings on our website, here, or a comprehensive FAQ document here.
All members - If you're making a booking, please take extra care to ensure that all required information is entered correctly – the names of all staying, ages of juniors etc, and especially your time of arrival. Incomplete or incorrect information particularly affects the Custodians and Party Leader. Take a moment to check your info is complete and correct before hitting the Save button.
And if you're contacted by Jenny Muir, our bookings officer, it's important you respond promptly. Jenny does a mountain of work behind the scenes and chasing non-responders increases her workload significantly.
If you have any issues accessing the booking system, please let me know - membership@skichristie.co.nz.
Let's fill that lodge up!
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CSC Bunkum #6 2024 - we're nearly there!
4 July, 2024
We're nearly there! Temperatures are dropping, snow has been falling, and the snowmakers are working overtime. Although there's still a way to go before the upper mountain opens up, our beloved and optimistic custodians are en route to their winter residence. This means that the lodge will be fully functioning from this weekend, just in time for the school holidays! Anyone for a day or two in Happy Valley?
We had a great crew in for the pre-season work party on June 22 & 23:
Susan, Christo, Angelique and Yannick Swanepoel
Paul, Tyler and Leon Iggulden
Katherine Baynton
Genoveva and Anika Smallfield
Rik and Holly Fisk
Amy, Esther and Hazel Williams
Amanda and Zoe Jones
Ruby Poulter
Tony and Sophie Hancock
Mark Young
Many thanks guys - we appreciate your commitment to the club and, thanks to you, the lodge is now spic and span and all set for a great season.
We have one locker and a number of ski racks available. The locker is $60 per season, racks are $30. Please let me know if you would like either of these - be quick - first in, first served!
A couple of links that might be handy:
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CSC Bunkum #7 2024 - What? A bunkum?
19 September, 2024
Apologies for the time between bunkums - I've been waiting that big dump of snow to kick off the season and, well, you have to concede it's taken its time! There's been quite a bit of fresh snow this week and more in the forecast so perhaps the best is still to come.
Here's a message from Vivian Oskam, our Club Captain:
Come and enjoy the spring snow!
Ok – so we all know this season hasn't been great. But let's not give up yet - snow dances have finally paid off and we're now getting the spring snow!
Whakapapa has received 30-40cms so far this week, and still building. The Valley-T bar is back in action, so is the Delta chair, while the Knoll T-bar is now firmly in focus ahead of the school holidays. Happy Valley beginner area looks as good, as it has all season. The crew is doing an absolute stellar effort again to make every day count!
The harsh reality is Whakapapa needs people to come in order to survive for next year - which is true for your ski club as well... So please come and support your club and the mountain while having some fun in the snow. Why not a last minute dash this weekend, or get your school holidays bookings in - there's plenty of space in the lodge. Bring your friends!
Let's make the most of it!
Men's Few Days were held August 11 - 13. Here's a debrief from one of its regular attendees, and Christie Past President, Bryan Clements:
This year's Men's Few Days was not to be deterred by a lack of snow, weather worries or lower numbers than usual. A group of regular die-hards turned up regardless for great camaraderie and to enjoy whatever the mountain might provide.
A few of us arrived early pre-Derby weekend to experience the small amount of snow that fell. Although not much, there was enough snow to freshen up the man-made trails on the Rockgarden and to help complete the schuss out. We were lucky enough to be first to ski down waterfall, fortunate because rain destroyed it a week or two later. A highlight was having fresh battered oysters that Craig caught somewhere near Kawhia. Mark and a couple of mates joined us and paid a visit to Turoa, Matt had a round of golf, and the rest of us walked or found other productive things to do.
A pity about the very lean snow year but great fun was had by all – as always!
Over recent weeks I've also had two separate groups of friends stay in the lodge with us. The first group of seven, family friends, enjoyed having the lodge to ourselves. For one couple, it was their first visit to Christie, and absolutely loved the place. Although we had no skiing, the game of golf at Waimarino was great fun, as were the bush/mountain walks, and reminiscing at the Powderhorn afterward. The second group, a party of 25 from my work social club also had a great time. A few cars went to Turoa for a few hours skiing before wind closed the lifts, some had their first foray into skiing in Happy Valley, others hiked up to the café. Both groups, as always, were made very welcome by Dallas & Pedro.
Earlier this year, in Bunkum #4, I asked for items to add to the club history to celebrate Christiania's 70th birthday. We have decided to postpone this update, we'll now concentrate on a big celebration for the club's 75th. However, at any time, if you have material you think would be a good addition to the archives, please let me know - membership@skichristie.co.nz
I hope there's some spring skiing in your future - we need to see you!
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CSC Bunkum #8 2024 - Lodge status, refunds ...
7 October, 2024
With the current lack of snow at Whakapapa, and at least a week of warm northerly weather in the forecast, Pedro and Dallas made the tough decision to head home last Friday. The absence of any lodge bookings as well as snow conditions informed their decision but, like us all, they live in hope that things will change for the better before the end of the season.
If there's a huge dump of snow in the coming weeks they may return. We will leave the booking system open for now but please be aware, if you make a booking, you may be there on your own! We'll notify any changes to the lodge status via a bunkum as soon as we're aware. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact me, membership@skichristie.co.nz, or Jenny Muir, our bookings officer, bookings@skichristie.co.nz
Given the number of cancellations this season, a huge effort is required by Jenny to process refunds. We ask that those of you waiting for refunds allow us the time to confirm that the season is over before Jenny starts this work. Refunds take considerably more work that transferring credits to a new booking, and we live in hope!
A message from club president, Steve McLennan:
It's been a tough season for Christie members wanting to enjoy their favourite place on the mountain. While the lodge has been kept well provisioned and warm since Pedro and Dallas' arrival part way through the July school holidays, the opportunities for members to enjoy even part of the mountain have been few and far between this year. We had great snow last year, and we'll have great snow in future, and those glorious days when we can slide from the top of the mountain to our front door. Your committee continues to take the optimistic approach that Christie will be open no matter what Mother Nature throws at us. Here's to the remaining weeks of the season proving the naysayers and realists alike wrong. Fingers crossed.
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CSC Bunkum #9 2024 - End of season, AGM, come join the committee
25 October, 2024
It's officially over, Whakapapa is closed for 2024. A disappointing year, it has to be said, with record no fall! Here's hoping for a better 2025. It's gotta be, right ... ? Thanks to all our active members and a special thanks to Pedro and Dallas for all the work they do for us.
The End of Season Work Party is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, November 16 & 17. This is where we put the lodge to bed for summer - a big clean up with a few maintenance jobs thrown in. While there's lots to do for younger members at the pre-season work party, the November work party is better suited to Seniors, or older juniors. Remember - this will credit your 2025 work party levy - $200 per senior member. Given the lodge has not been super busy this year, there probably won't be as much work required as in previous years, so we may only require a day's attendance. Please register your interest with me - membership@skichristie.co.nz
The 2024 Christiania Annual General Meeting and Prizegiving will be held on Thursday November 21 at the McMeekan Centre, Ruakura Research Centre (AgResearch) in Hamilton. (Prizes may be a bit thin on the ground this year as, in a repeat of last year, no events ran!) I'll send a further email closer to the time containing links to the meeting Agenda, 2024 Financial Report, President's Report and other relevant documents, and confirming the meeting venue and times.
One major piece of business we'll be conducting at AGM is a raft of changes to our Club Constitution, required so we comply with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Details of these changes will be communicated in more detail well in advance of the meeting, but one thing to note is that any change to the constitution requires an elevated quorum of 20 senior members. It would be very helpful to get an idea of who will be attending or, if not attending, who would be happy to vote by proxy. If you're planning on attending, or happy to vote by proxy, please let me know - membership@skichristie.co.nz
The AGM is also where we elect the Club Committee. We're always looking for new faces to get involved with the running and organisation of the club - it's vital that the committee has a diverse representation of the club membership to represent your interests. Meetings are held online, once a month, from February to October. If you would like more information on what's involved, feel free to contact me or one of our current committee members. If you're seeking nomination, please download and complete the 2025 nomination form and send it to secretary@skichristie.co.nz before November 7.
Don't forget, you're also able to use the lodge through summer. With so much to do in the Ruapehu region it's a great accommodation option - $30 each per night for members, $50 for non-members, for a minimum of two people. Book in the normal way via the Booking system - use the Summer Bookings item.
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