THIS WEBSITE HAS MOVED TO A BIGGER AND BETTER LOCATION! HEAD TO BUSHCRAFT.ORG.NZ TO CHECK IT OUT NOW!
Hi and welcome to Bushcraft New Zealand!
This is a place to learn about what bushcraft is about, and hopefully to convince you to give it a go! The term bushcraft is relatively new to New Zealand but the principles behind it are ones that have been important in past generations. We will continue to post info on what you will need, the skills and techniques will need, my past experiences and much more. I’ll also as point you towards other sources that I come across. This is not meant to be solely a “how to” guide, it is merely a way of spreading knowledge and maybe helping you on your own journey.
Bushcraft is a rewarding hobby and the skills learn’t are valuable. Its not expensive and almost everyone can give it a go. Getting people together on the Shrafters network means we can organise outings or get together to learn and share skills which the long term plan of this site.
How you can get involved:
- Subscribe to the posts via email or RSS using the button at top right
- Contribute via comments or email admin@bushcraftnz.org if you would like to do a guest post
- Head to the “Shrafters Network” page and look into coming to an outing or skills evening in your area. If there isnt one, talk to us about setting one up!
This site is merely a tool to help us come together and engage in bushcraft so please don’t hesitate to pitch in, its what this is all about!
What its all about....
Sounds awesome man keep it up. I am an audiology professional so don’t get out much but I love to when I can.
great site, love the fire bow idea. Got a great book from http://www.whitcolls.co.nz on bushcraft and what native plants are edible
This is looking really good and congrats on starting something up in NZ.
Hope everything goes well. If you need a hand with anything, let me know.
All the best,
Pablo in UK
http://www.woodlife.co.uk
Great day to you Ryan,
I just found your sight, happily.
I am happy to start finding folks in NZ who are into developing n having fun with Bushcraft.
I was instructing at a few different schools as well as festivals for some years,
back in Canada n the united slaves before I happily left (politics of the u.s.) and lived in Ecuador n Peru for some years in part learning more experientially from indigenous friends who of course live, breath n are immersed in indigenous living skills / bushcraft constantly within their lives.
As well I was doing other exploration: running a permaculture program at Los Cedros reserva; independent ethnobotany, all kinds of trekking, cycling, etc.
Ive been in NZ 7 years n on very rare occasions I meet someone, usually an elder who tells me tales of when they were younger being in the bush n learning some bush craft from their fathers.
Ill read more of your site here and love to be in contact….
Ij / Poeticutopia
Hey..
Good to find this site here…
I am looking for people who are willing to share they knowledge, or a course, or smth… I ve be trying to find a sort of a bushcraft school here in NZ, but it is hard..
anyway, I live in Chch, and am wondering if anyone knows about places where we can learn these type of skills…
Thanx Ryan and Poeticutopia.
Artur
Hi, I live in the Christchurch area, I am involved in Scouting and Trap possums part time for a living. I have some knowledge from Scouts and my own reading and Dvd’s. I have also got lots of forestry at my disposal that I possum in, which can be used for allsorts of stuff. I am keen to meet others interested in this stuff and who would like to go out and practice it. Would like to be able to learn as much with others as I can and then be able to pass it on. So if you want to contact me or meet up try me on 021567878. The land is within 30mins of Chch on Banks peninsula, so is easily accessed. Also one of the scout leaders is a pom, who in england has done a lot of bushcraft, and as his schedule allows, I am sure he would be keen as well.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Scott
Hi Scott..
Sure thing!!! Thank you so much for this post… I ll certainly be getting in touch with you soon… I am working quite a lot now, but soon, should be able to get some weekly time off, and hopefully, fit into your schedule, and get down there at Banks Peninsula… Once again, Thank you, and I will be seeing you very soon….
Artur
If others in Christchurch are interested they can contact me as well. I am interested in getting a good group going, where we can learn from each other, with a view to being able to run classes. As I still have a lot to learn, the more people we have with a broad rang of skills, the more we all will benefit. I am happy to act as a go between etc to try a get this going.
Hi Scott, Artur.
This sounds alright! Definitely count me in. I try to get out a bit, but am typically held back by my companions reluctance to get involved in bush craft. I know a few things, and am practically minded. But so much knowledge out there looking to be shared. So good idea, fella. I’ll be in touch.
Benjamin.
Hi scot,jj from timaru,it sounds like we need to make an appointment to join up and have a weeekend away ,as a pom also,ok,cheers.while i’m on here,i have a question to everyone,i’m after a stainless steel waterbottle/canteen,i used to have one,great bit of kit,so if anyone has a contact then please let me no,thanks.
Hi there. Thanks for your input, our website has moved to a bigger and better location at http://www.bushcraft.org.nz
The new site has forums, tutorials, and allows you to interact much more. We would love for you to join the community!
Cheers
-Ryan
Just stoped by to check in,Wow great job!
Hope you are well. again great job.
Take care.
Finally, a NZ based bushcraft website, Fantastic. I have become interested in bushcraft ever since coming across bushcraft knives while researching knife making. I am now a scout leader and I am concerned about the lack of knowledge shown by Scouts. A site relating specifically to New Zealand animals and fauna will give some hope for a resurgence of Kiwi Bushmens lost knowledge. I will follow this with great interest and hopefully be able to help with some of the skills and knowledge I have. Hopefully some Nz specific bow making will come up.
I think it is sad to say, but the vanishing bush skills is largely a result of almost everything being outlawed in the NZ bush. Anything run by DOC or Regional councils has banned fires, cutting trees, even camping outside designated areas. While there are a few of us located close enough to some remote areas who can ‘get out there’, most people have to ‘run the gauntlet’ and hope we don’t get caught straying off the beaten track.
I understand conservation and tourism, etc, but it feels sometimes like we are allowed to look but not touch. No wonder the number of people going out there poorly equipped and with little knowledge seems to be increasing.
The scary thing is, the cotton wool all these kids are being wrapped up in. Our scouts are not allowed to take fixed blades or even locking blade knives. We can not take them and show them how to hunt or trap, we can not even go to Paintball as a Scout troop. Crazy, this is an organisation that teaches outdoor skills and their hands are tied by politics. Even NZ mountain safety suggest to carry a good quality knife in the bush.
(moderated by admin)
A knife is essential, if I could take nothing else, that would be what I would take. I can see the fixed blade being an issue for some, but whatever happened to the swiss army knife? I know by ‘grown up’ standards they are a bit of a toy, but getting swiss a army knife is every kids dream.
So you can basically teach them knots and how to go camping?
not quite the same really is it. PC gone wrong again!
Hi dave ,good point about the bush being governed so much that it makes it so hard for us to get out there without all the red tape,i moved from the uk because all the freedom was vanishing,whats happening here,cheers.
thanks !! very helpful post!
Hi guys, awesome site. I’m just starting out with my 5yr old son and figured I could teach him stuff as i learn it. We’re going on our first camp away from the back yard tomorrow so will scour the site to glean as much as I can before we go. He’s a huge fan of Man vs Wild – hope Bushcraft can help me live up to some of his expectations!!
Hi Eru thanks for your comment. This website is a little out dated as we have all shifted to a bigger and better site bushcraft.org.nz where its a lot more interactive. We have plenty of cool videos your boy could watch too!
Cheers
-Ryan
nice blog, looking forward to read more!
bushrangercz.worldpress.com