The Tramping Life

Geoff Spearpoint is one of New Zealand’s most experienced trampers, writers, and backcountry advocates. For decades he has explored some of the country’s most remote corners, helped preserve our huts and tracks, and inspired countless trampers through books, photography, and articles.

In this episode we talk about his beginnings in the Tararuas, youthful adventures that nearly went wrong, and the friendships that shaped his tramping life. Jeff shares stories of ambitious expeditions across Fiordland and the Southern Alps, surreal moments in the mountains, and encounters with kiwi and kakapo.

We also discuss the evolution of New Zealand’s hut and track network, the volunteer movement to preserve it, and the cultural importance of huts in our backcountry. Jeff reflects on climate change’s impact on glaciers, the rhythms of birdlife, and what still remains on his bucket list after a lifetime in the hills.

Craig Potton is a photographer, publisher, conservationist, and one of New Zealand’s most thoughtful voices on wild places.
 
Craig’s stories take us from crawling out the back door as a kid in Nelson, to surfing wild west coast breaks, finding happiness in the Himalaya, and carrying camera gear heavy enough to need a chiropractor decades later. We talk about burning down a hut (almost), sleeping beneath bivvy rocks, the heartbreak of vanishing glaciers, and the deep connection between wilderness, gratitude, and art.

Celia Wade-Brown is a Green Party MP, former mayor of Wellington, founder of the Wairarapa Walking Festival, and a lifelong tramper. From childhood walks in London’s parks and the Lake District, to rafting adventures, multi-day tramps in the Tararuas, and eventually walking the length of New Zealand on Te Araroa, Celia’s journey reflects her passion for the outdoors and sustainable living. In this episode, she shares the joys and challenges of Te Araroa, why outdoor education matters, the importance of conservation funding, and why protecting New Zealand’s wild places matters more than ever.

Gerry McSweeney is a lifelong tramper, former president of Forest & Bird, and founder of Wilderness Lodges at Lake Moeraki and Arthur’s Pass. Jerry reflects on his early days with the Christchurch Tramping Club, hard river crossings and tramping with trains, and how tramping shaped his lifelong commitment to conservation.
We hear stories of endurance epics in the Southern Alps, the importance of predator control, and the transformation he’s witnessed in New Zealand’s forests and birdlife over decades. Gerry also shares his passion for Fiordland crested penguins, thoughts on tourism and guiding, and his favourite huts and hidden valleys.
It’s a conversation that weaves together tramping adventures, conservation battles, and a deep love of Aotearoa’s wild places.

My guests today are Kemi and Niko, the creative duo behind Kemi Niko & Co. Known for their handcrafted miniature huts, public art projects, and love for New Zealand’s backcountry, they blend art, design, and outdoor culture in a way that’s utterly unique.

We talk about how they began as broke artists in Wellington, their passion for real materials and hut heritage, the challenge of raising kids who tramp, and the surprising demand for tiny huts made from salvaged tin and timber.

It’s a story of creativity, persistence, and connection — to the land, to people, and to the simple joy of shelter.

For more information visit their website at http://www.keminiko.com/ and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kemi_niko/