The Tramping Life

• Gerry McSweeney - Conservation, Tourism, and Penguins

  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.

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• Kemi & Niko - Creativity in Corrugated Iron

  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/

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• Alistair Hall - Wilderness Magazine & NZ's Worst Tramp

  Alistair Hall has been the editor and publisher of Wilderness Magazine for nearly two decades — and part of its story since the early 1990s. In this episode, he talks about his earliest outdoor memories, the “type two fun” that sparked his passion for tramping, and the muddy, magical challenge of the Southern Circuit on Rakiura.He shares what it takes to produce a monthly magazine that’s chronicled New Zealand’s outdoor culture for more than 30 years, why Wilderness has endured while others folded, and what he learned from an ill-fated experiment with AI illustrations.From school camps in Tongariro to the “worst tramp in New Zealand,” to launching the Walk1200 challenge — this is a fascinating look behind the scenes at a publication that’s inspired generations of trampers.

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• Victoria & Emilie Bruce - Mother, Daughter, Trailblazers

  Victoria and Emilie Bruce have shared thousands of kilometres of trail — and hundreds of backcountry huts — between them. When Emilie was just seven years old, the pair set off to walk the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail, raising funds for conservation and mental health, and inspiring trampers young and old along the way.  In this episode, Victoria and Emilie talk about the adventures that shaped them — from snowstorms in Nelson Lakes to the solitude of the West Coast — and the lessons learned through blisters, laughter, and lollies. We hear how their journey turned into two books (Adventures with Emilie and Emilie Walks), and how they’ve kept exploring ever since — with more than 400 huts now ticked off their growing list.  It’s a story of courage, curiosity, and connection — a reminder that the best adventures are often the ones we share.

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• Andrew Buglass - Huts, Solitude, and the Birth of Permolat

  Andrew Buglass is the founder of Permolat and the central figure in The Hut Keepers, a new film celebrating the grassroots effort to preserve New Zealand’s hut network. In this episode, Andrew shares his deep connection with the mountains, the challenges of solitude, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to protecting backcountry huts. From youthful nights in the hills with only a transistor radio for company, to leading a movement that has kept our huts alive for future generations, Andrew reflects on what it means to belong in the backcountry.Photo: Andrew by lake on Elliot tops, credit Paulette Birchfield

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