Maratoto temporary closure from 8 Jan 2012

[PeterVahry]

With the persisting wet conditions and the fact that the Maratoto trail already needed work to repair some sections, it has been decided to close the gate to 4x4 use for a while. The decision is in conjunction with DOC, as it is obliged to minimise the silt being carried into waterways.

Check the information service on 027 5242132 before travelling to Maratoto.

[Spoonman]

still closed, went for a drive over that way today. Answering machine only talks about the weather from the first week of Jan. Does anyone have any info on how long it might be closed?

[Mudde1]

still closed, went for a drive over that way today. Answering machine only talks about the weather from the first week of Jan. Does anyone have any info on how long it might be closed?

Be closed for quite a while. the tracks has suffered a lot of damage. moves are underway to get it repaired but one of the problems is that because so few people pay the track fee, there is no money in the kitty to pay for the repairs.

[vinceparts]

still closed, went for a drive over that way today. Answering machine only talks about the weather from the first week of Jan. Does anyone have any info on how long it might be closed?

Be closed for quite a while. the tracks has suffered a lot of damage. moves are underway to get it repaired but one of the problems is that because so few people pay the track fee, there is no money in the kitty to pay for the repairs.

Useless bastards, even if I forget to get a tenner out I always pile all of my loose change in there

[mudlva]

still closed, went for a drive over that way today. Answering machine only talks about the weather from the first week of Jan. Does anyone have any info on how long it might be closed?

Be closed for quite a while. the tracks has suffered a lot of damage. moves are underway to get it repaired but one of the problems is that because so few people pay the track fee, there is no money in the kitty to pay for the repairs.

Useless bastards, even if I forget to get a tenner out I always pile all of my loose change in there

yes i wish there were a lot more that did

the chap that monitors the gate said that there were dozens of trucks up there before and during xmas with less than a handful paying

we have programed some form of schedule for mid to end of feb

for those that would like to donate towards the maintanance cost contact Peter Vahry (treasury of CRVLAC who collects and then distrubes the donated funds) or Tony Burgess (mudde1) ( nzfwda president)

the mainantance we did before xmas cleaned the money tin out and that was with donated machines hire and nzfwda members doing all the labour

we will now be in a situation were we will need to hire a digger and most likely will need to bring in large rock to help fill the BIG and LONG holes that were cut up by 4bys over the xmas period

all donations will be greatly appreicated as well as a good turn out of labour when thing get organised after waitangi weekend

more details will follow

regards Rohan
vise pres of the northern zone

[Spoonman]

As a idea (please dont take this as being rude) but why dont you or whoever controls the money or donations for the track, list a bank account number or a paypal donation fund, which people could do online as this is the year 2012 and only a small minority of people carry cash on them or can be bothered going to a ATM, you would get way money money for the track, and people who have say a contributor sticker on there window can get in no problem. Im happy to pay in advance or contribute as i go, I do this with other clubs im with. (Cars)

[Mudde1]

As a idea (please dont take this as being rude) but why dont you or whoever controls the money or donations for the track, list a bank account number or a paypal donation fund, which people could do online as this is the year 2012 and only a small minority of people carry cash on them or can be bothered going to a ATM, you would get way money money for the track, and people who have say a contributor sticker on there window can get in no problem. Im happy to pay in advance or contribute as i go, I do this with other clubs im with. (Cars)

Good idea, watch this space.

[vinceparts]

As a idea (please dont take this as being rude) but why dont you or whoever controls the money or donations for the track, list a bank account number or a paypal donation fund, which people could do online as this is the year 2012 and only a small minority of people carry cash on them or can be bothered going to a ATM, you would get way money money for the track, and people who have say a contributor sticker on there window can get in no problem. Im happy to pay in advance or contribute as i go, I do this with other clubs im with. (Cars)

I really like this idea, I find it do much easier to throw away money over the internet.....

[PeterVahry]

No problem to provide a bank deposit number for the management account. The bank is ASB Parnell 123075 0145320 00

Plans are being put in place to hire a digger, possibly in the second week of Feb if the weather allows and to get some work done over a week (including a weekend). It takes a day just to walk a digger to the area needing work, so it's not a quick process.
To hire the machine from Kopu and transport will cost close to $1900+gst. (plus fuel)
Existing funds only amount to $400, so additional money will need to be sourced if the work is to be actioned. An approach will be made to the NZFWDA again for assistance.
If anyone has suggestions for sponsorship options to help fund maintenance, I'd be interested. We once had Honda and Suzuki contributing.

Inside advice from DOC is that it is very unlikely that any additional options for 4x4 routes like Maratoto will be recognised for the Coromandel region in the draft CMS now being prepared.

[UBZ]

Count me in for maintenance work , I love this track.

Has anything been done to keep the trail bikes out , considering the state of the track?
Experience has showen me they are a major contributor to track damage .
Maybe the trail bike users should be contributing to supporting the track maintenace as well.

I would be good to see a return to old philosophy of using a spade to Drain the holes and fill the ruts where required on way up , instead of just roaring up the track at full noise, full wheel spin.

[mudlva]

As a idea (please dont take this as being rude) but why dont you or whoever controls the money or donations for the track, list a bank account number or a paypal donation fund, which people could do online as this is the year 2012 and only a small minority of people carry cash on them or can be bothered going to a ATM, you would get way money money for the track, and people who have say a contributor sticker on there window can get in no problem. Im happy to pay in advance or contribute as i go, I do this with other clubs im with. (Cars)

good idea that and no offence taken

this is the advantage of forums ah to give ideas and susgestions

[DieselBoy]

Put me down for a weekend of spade action too, when it's time

[Drurban]

Iam willing to contribute as well, as like the above Idea with online payments as this is the way of the future.

I also like this track as so many other's on here, and if all do there part then all will be happy.

I think is would also be good for Thompsons track aswell as a donation box at the start of the track.

Cheers.

[vinceparts]

put me on the list of spade work too , enjoy doing this track,

[pjb]

No problem to provide a bank deposit number for the management account. The bank is ASB Parnell 123075 0145320 00

Got my donation...

[vinceparts]

No problem to provide a bank deposit number for the management account. The bank is ASB Parnell 123075 0145320 00

Got my donation...

Just put a donation through

[PeterVahry]

Thanks for the interest in helping. Experience at Maratoto has shown that if we 'harden' critical areas after the digger has sorted the trail surface and the drainage, it can provide quite long term success. The most effective way has been to place rock/stones where wear will most likely occur. Most of the current problems are at the top end towards the Tairua River. There is a quantity of rock that can be collected from the vicinity of the river and transported back to harden areas.

Bagging the stones can make handling and loading into vehicles easier. DOC however do not like 'plastic' sacks being left on the ground so we usually use hessian 'sugar' sacks if we plan to drop the entire bag. Plastic sacks are fine for just transporting and emptying.

A benefit of dropping a hessian sack full of stones is that the weave of the sack also 'grabs' soil particles and can quickly tie the stones and sack into the trail surface.

Several years ago we tested a process of mixing dry clay with cement and bagging that into hessian sacks that were then laid into wet areas and left to harden. It proved successful but labour intensive. It might be that a similar system could be employed by using gravel from alongside the Wires Rd ford that is mixed dry (using a concrete mixer) and bagged for transporting up to where it is needed. Most 4x4's can carry at least 4 sacks.

If anyone has a free source of hessian sacks I'd be interested in hearing from you.

[Spoonman]

No problem to provide a bank deposit number for the management account. The bank is ASB Parnell 123075 0145320 00

Got my donation...

Just put a donation through

works doesn't it, but can the account holder please post a list of people that have contributed and when (not the amount) as some sort of receipt. so we can be sure that we aren't just putting money into some random acc for someones piss fund

[Mudde1]

[quote="Spoonman"][quote="vinceparts"][quote="pjb"][quote="PeterVahry"]No problem to provide a bank deposit number for the management account. The bank is ASB Parnell 123075 0145320 00

Please be aware that this is not a NZFWDA account. NZFWDA has no control over this account. the organization holds no elections and has refused to supply a statement of accounts despite several requests from NZFWDA. they have no members and Peter V says he is not responsible to anyone for the funds that are in that account. spending of the funds is entirely at peters discretion with out recourse.

Tony Burgess
President
NZFWDA.

[monstr]

Does that mean that the NZFWDA wont be clipping the ticket along the way ,Nor will this account be helping to subsidize Association conferences etc Cant be all bad then can it "

[Mudde1]

Does that mean that the NZFWDA wont be clipping the ticket along the way ,Nor will this account be helping to subsidize Association conferences etc Cant be all bad then can it "

I am only saying that I think that it is important that anyone depositing money to CRVLAC account is aware of who CRVLAC are. CRVLAC was set up several years ago as a committee of various off road vehicle clubs and organizations. Part of the role was to manage Maratoto. Over the years the organization has developed to the point that CRVLAC now consists of only one person (Peter V). In the last 10 years there has been no elections, no auditing of accounts, no other person has been allowed to have any input. as far as I am aware CRVLAC has no rules. Early last year NZFWDA members passed a resolution that the Northern Zone President was to represent NZFWDA on CRVLAC and CRVLAC was to produce accounts before any further money NZFWDA money was spent. no accounts have been produced and the Northern Zone President has been not been consulted.

in contrast NZFWDA has rules and a constitution that is published on its web site and incorporated societies website. Elections are held every year and any member can stand for office. decisions are made by a democratic process and all members have a vote. Accounts are audited and all members have access to those accounts. all elected members including myself are responsible to members for spending and must follow the decisions made at meetings.
I cant say exactly how funds are too spent on in the future as that will depend on what members decide, but i would expect that 100% of funds donated for Maratoto were spent on Maratoto. What ever the case, audit accounts will be produced with out fail. i personally guarantee that every person who deposits any money in any NZFWDA account will receive a receipt, as long as they supply contact details.
The national conference is paid for from Conference Budget which is part of the National Exec budget. Any funds for Maratoto will come from Northern Zone Budget. Decisions on what that is spent on are made at the Northern Zone Meetings (approx 4 times a year) and all members are welcome to attend. There will never be, and never has been any clipping of the ticket while i am on the National Exec.

the issue of the management of Maratoto is on the agenda for the next Northern Zone meeting and i look forward to hearing members views.

Tony Burgess
President NZFWDA

[kbushnz]

Geee that hit a raw nerve....

[vinceparts]

well that may possibly be a mistake i just made without knowing the full story...$$

[kbushnz]

well that may possibly be a mistake i just made without knowing the full story...$$

Peter V is a straight up guy... any funds he manages go to where they belong... Rest assured

[DieselBoy]

well that may possibly be a mistake i just made without knowing the full story...$$

Peter V is a straight up guy... any funds he manages go to where they belong... Rest assured

Yeah totally agree.

If you keep personality clashes aside, the quickest and most surefire way of getting the necessary track work done and promptly this summer is through Mr Vahry. He will make it happen given the right resources.

NZ4WDA might be better in the long term as managers due to the influential muscle its developing and through better funding, but that hasn't even been decided yet.

Get ya working bee sorted Peter, we will be there to help

[Spoonman]

well that may possibly be a mistake i just made without knowing the full story...$$

Peter V is a straight up guy... any funds he manages go to where they belong... Rest assured

Yeah totally agree.

If you keep personality clashes aside, the quickest and most surefire way of getting the necessary track work done and promptly this summer is through Mr Vahry. He will make it happen given the right resources.

NZ4WDA might be better in the long term as managers due to the influential muscle its developing and through better funding, but that hasn't even been decided yet.

Get ya working bee sorted Peter, we will be there to help

Thats the other point i was going to bring out, that people donating money need to be assured as to the credibility of Peter Vahry if no receipt system is to be given, personally i have know idea who he is and have never met him, so i cant say. But if a large number of people will stand by him as to the donating of money for the purpose of maintaining the maratoto track, then once trust has been established more people will give money and as long as Peter keeps ensuring that this money is for the stated purpose he will establish himself as a "good bastard", and more people will give and the track will get better.

So people speak highly of peter if you think hes the right man for the job and lets get some money rolling in.

[monstr]

Sorry Tony i may be wrong ,But from your original post it seemed to me that the NZFWA was playing the big brother theme and trying to wield a big stick in that ,do as we say or else.almost like "if you dont play by our rules were going to take our ball and go home scenario" ,and seemed to imply doubt over the integrity of those involved .This track and Crvlac has been discussed many times in the past at our(open and public) club meetings and from discussions held i can say 100% of all track fees and donations collected goes back into maintaining the track ,I have known peter for many years and if not for people like him putting in many many hours voluntary at meetings with DOC and the environment court this and other tracks like this would be lost ,Your original post seemed to be an attack on Peter V and his handling of Maratoto (Crvlac) i have Known Peter to long to let this go unchallenged.
Steve

[Mudde1]

Sorry Tony i may be wrong ,But from your original post it seemed to me that the NZFWA was playing the big brother theme and trying to wield a big stick in that ,do as we say or else.almost like "if you dont play by our rules were going to take our ball and go home scenario" ,and seemed to imply doubt over the integrity of those involved .This track and Crvlac has been discussed many times in the past at our(open and public) club meetings and from discussions held i can say 100% of all track fees and donations collected goes back into maintaining the track ,I have known peter for many years and if not for people like him putting in many many hours voluntary at meetings with DOC and the environment court this and other tracks like this would be lost ,Your original post seemed to be an attack on Peter V and his handling of Maratoto (Crvlac) i have Known Peter to long to let this go unchallenged.
Steve

i have sent Steve a PM about this and will respond when he has has had a chance to look at it.
also as a result of a request, if people wish to donate to Maratoto track maintenance via NZFWDA the account number is 02 0400 0217946 000. please include MARATOTO as a reference. If you contact me i will arrange a receipt.

[PeterVahry]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Tony. I'll look forward to doing the same to you in maybe 10 years time when you've put in as many hours and personal cash as I've done for Maratoto. As a NZFWDA life member and longtime past president etc, a little respect might be allowed?

The Maratoto is not a NZFWDA piece of property, nor mine, But public land administered by DOC. I've invested nearly 15 years in ensuring its survival for 4x4 use. Working with DOC has been valuable and they accept my word and recommendations. It makes things simple and efficient and they know they can concentrate on other areas.

Yes the original group CRVLAC has faded into history but the bank account and the original small fund have proved to be valuable in efforts to preserve Maratoto. Without that there might well not be the access today. Certainly the NZFWDA northern zone have contributed and some years significantly. Other years the gate takings and occasional other donations have been spent on maintenance without any top-up from the NZFWDA. As I mentioned earlier I had at one stage funding sponsorship organised too.

While the NZFWDA might provide receipts for donations it will also argue about using the money. Will money be released to address urgent needs or will it need a general meeting to agree? Will donated money be earmarked or simply rolled into funds? Who is going to front with the cash deposit usually needed to hire equipment? The existing funds held by just the NZFWDA northern zone as part of member fees, stands at over $20,000. Should they really want more?

If people wish receipts for money paid to CRVLAC directly, that can be arranged. Money donated via the gate box is not able to be receipted unless people identify who contributed it and provide an address. (we did originally have envelopes there for that purpose but they were not used by people)

The NZFWDA role should be one of working to expand the opportunities and advocate for four wheeling generally, not managing individual trails. They should be ensuring that illegal use of private and public land is stamped out so when four wheelers want to negotiate for further access, the land managers can't say " why should we let you on our land when four wheelers ignore our rights anyway?"

Peter Vahry
NZFWDA life member
Auckland 4WD Club secretary
UFWDA international vice-president www.ufwda.org

[vinceparts]

well peter you seem to be a good bloke, you wouldnt haen to live at the base of maratoto would ya?