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Archive of Bruce James Mason

1949 –  

New Zealand conservation and recreation researcher and advocate

Mountaineer, tramper, cross country skier, sea kayaker, survivor of self-built aircraft, mountain hut restorer, skipper of classic motor-sailer, electrified cyclist

Professional History

Ceramics technician and quality controller, McSkimming Industries 1967-1969
Soil science technician,  Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries 1969-1974
Department of Lands & Survey - National Parks & Reserves Ranger, 1975-1982.
Public Lands Coalition (Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, NZ Fish & Game Council) 
     Federated Mountain Clubs) 1982-1992 - researcher.
Public Access New Zealand 1993-2003 - founder, researcher and spokesman
Advocate and writer 2004-2024

Former Institutional Involvement

President Otago Tramping & Mountaineering Club
Executive member Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ.

Highlights of Experience

  • Undertook private study tour of North American national park and forest management 1974. On return introduced Minimum Impact Code to New Zealand.

  • Primarily responsible for planning, negotiating, and establishing new park complex 1975-82 (Otago Goldfields Park).

  • Influential in effecting changes to conservation and Crown land legislation, and resisting undesirable amendments.

  • Uncovered massive Crown land misallocation to State-owned Enterprises leading to successful national campaign by NGO's in 1987 (450,000 ha reinstated to public ownership.

  • At forefront of two national campaigns for protection of the 'Queen's Chain' around New Zealand's coast/lake shores and rivers (1989-90 & 1993-96).

  • Spearheaded walking group that opened up public access over 18 obstructed public roads on the Otago Peninsula, through direct and political action (1990-94).

Publications 

Family Archives

Kenneth David Mason 1945 – 2017
Memoir
Cover Forward
Ch 1 Ghost Mentor
Ch 2 Richard H Kakapo   Part 1   Part 2
Ch 3 Nicols Falls 
Ch 4 Wild West  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3
Ch 5 Silverpeaks  Part 1   Part 2
Ch 6 Dunedin Skyline
Ch 7 Tomahawk Lagoons   Part 1   Part 2
Ch 8 Geological days  Part 1   Part 2
Ch 9 Making the Call  Part 1   Part 2
Ch 10 Otago Peninsula land war  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3
Ch 11 Opening Spiers Road
Ch 12 Domestic & Employment
Ch 13 Cross country skiing  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4   Part 5
Ch 14 Antarctica  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4   Part 5   Part 6
Ch 15 Moores Bush  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4
Ch 16 Quarantine Island   Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7
Ch 17 Cloud Forest connection    Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7   Part 8   Part 9
Ch 18  Notable associates    Part 1
Misc.    Part 1

Obituary  Tributes
Trips

Peter John Mason  1955 –
OTMC’s ‘Dispicable Action’
Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7   Part 8   Part 9  Part 10 [BJM]

David Hamilton Mason  1915 –1981
Dunedin Stadium

Archives by Subject

Treaty of Waitangi

Ngai Tahu Claim

Mt Hikurangi

Otago Goldfields Park

Federated Mountain Clubs

Public Lands Coalition

Crown Land Allocations

South Island High Country

Queen's Chain

Otago Peninsula Walkers

Public Roads

Walking Access Commission

Public Access New Zealand

Recreation Access New Zealand

Foreshore and Seabed

Big Hut and other Restorations

Photographic Collection

Peter Child slide collection

A lifetime in the outdoors

North America

Antarctica