via ferrata aotearoa inc.
Our charitable society
A club for a purpose
THE SOCIETY
A charitable society was founded on 16.11.2022 by 32 founding members. The society has 46 members as of April 2024. The board and core team consists of chair Till Middelhauve, deputy chair Andrew Palmer and secretary and treasurer Silke Middelhauve.
A core team of willing club volunteers has formed to realise the build and is led by Till Middelhauve in the role of a project manager and Andrew Palmer contributing his professional capabilities as a Chartered Professional Geotechnical Engineer. The team includes other professionals that have important skills. The society also has several members that are professional industrial climbers and a number of keen cavers with excellent rope skills.
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Main Actors
The CORE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROJECT
Chair TILL MIDDELHAUVE is a semi-retired businessman from Germany. He emigrated to New Zealand in 2020, found no public Via Ferratas and decided it’s time for NZ to get one! He’s an outdoor enthusiast with a range of adventurous hobbies. His main role in the project was to navigate and negotiate all the formal requirements to make the project happen. He contributes his project management skills and has recently enjoyed finally getting out there climbing and drilling stuff.
Deputy Chair ANDREW PALMER is a local Geotechnical Engineer based in Mapua. He is a Chartered Member of Engineering NZ and is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng). His main role in the Via Ferrata project is to make it safe and sound and sign off the construction work at completion. Andrew has lived, worked and raised a family in the Nelson area for 20 years and is very familiar with the regional geology and the associated geotechnical issues. He is a keen ultra-marathon runner, skier, biker and tramper.
LUIS MIDDELHAUVE, son of Till, needs to be mentioned here as well! He caught on to his dad's project early on and over the course of three years literally spent hundreds of hours of his free time with Till clearing tracks and climbing the cliffs on ropes to mark the future route of the Via Ferrata. He was 15 when the actual construction took place and he is a great addition to the team, rigging, drilling, carrying, cleaning drill holes and gluing anchors!
Deputy Chair ANDREW PALMER is a local Geotechnical Engineer based in Mapua. He is a Chartered Member of Engineering NZ and is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng). His main role in the Via Ferrata project is to make it safe and sound and sign off the construction work at completion. Andrew has lived, worked and raised a family in the Nelson area for 20 years and is very familiar with the regional geology and the associated geotechnical issues. He is a keen ultra-marathon runner, skier, biker and tramper.
LUIS MIDDELHAUVE, son of Till, needs to be mentioned here as well! He caught on to his dad's project early on and over the course of three years literally spent hundreds of hours of his free time with Till clearing tracks and climbing the cliffs on ropes to mark the future route of the Via Ferrata. He was 15 when the actual construction took place and he is a great addition to the team, rigging, drilling, carrying, cleaning drill holes and gluing anchors!
Become a supporting member
Join our club now!
If you'd like to support what we are doing then please consider becoming a supporting member or even come and help!
A supporting membership cost NZ$ 30 per year and besides doing something good there's the little perk of getting free gear hire!
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Help us with funding for more routes
donate now
If you love what we do please consider chipping in. It will help us build more routes and maintain what we've got! No matter how big or small, any amount is much appreciated!
Please simply transfer your donation to our BNZ bank account: Payee: Via Ferrata Aotearoa Inc.Account no: 02-0692-0098335-000
Our society is registered as a charity. It means you are eligible to deduct 30% of your donation amount from your income tax filing. If you need a donation tax receipt, please write a short email to contact@viaferrata.org.nz.
Please simply transfer your donation to our BNZ bank account: Payee: Via Ferrata Aotearoa Inc.Account no: 02-0692-0098335-000
Our society is registered as a charity. It means you are eligible to deduct 30% of your donation amount from your income tax filing. If you need a donation tax receipt, please write a short email to contact@viaferrata.org.nz.