ABOUT THE NZSS

The membership is mainly made up of members of affiliated local clubs. The NZSS also operates the NZ Cave Search and Rescue system on behalf of LandSAR and SAR NZ. NZSS is a proud member of the International Union of Speleology and welcomes contact from international cavers. Click here to visit the UIS website.

On 1 October 1949, the Society came into existence by proclamation of its only member, Mr Henry G Lambert, who was President,Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor of the NZSS Bulletin. During the following months Henry Lambert recruited more members, and despite its unusual formation, the Society steadily grew from its base in Auckland.

At that time very little was known about caves in New Zealand. Information was gleaned from Borough Councils, Museums, university geologists, Geological Survey, landowners, and private individuals. The Society was set up to collate this information and make it available to other cavers, to stimulate further exploration.

In the early days activities were limited to the Auckland and Waikato regions.  Before long a strong core of active cavers developed in the Waikato, particularly at Hamilton and Waitomo.  During the 1960s caving groups were formed in other centres, including Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch, and these became affiliated to the Society, gradually extending its influence across the country. Membership increased steadily, now averaging around 350 members.

Nowadays, most caving activity is based on Waitomo, Mahoenui (north Taranaki), north-west Nelson, and Buller. The Society's structure reflects is broad geographical base.

Modern cave exploration in New Zealand developed in the 1970s with the discovery of Greenlink Cave at Tākaka Hill, followed by exploration in the1980s of the Nettlebed system under Mount Arthur, and then New Zealand's longest cave, Bulmer Cavern on Mt Owen was discovered, and is still being explored today. In the 1990s Mt Arthur saw a lot of action with the Ellis Basin Cave System being the focus of activity. In 2011 Stormy Pot was discovered and after much hard work it was connected with Nettlebed in 2014.

More recently there have been many extensions, connections, and new discoveries, but these four caves remain the longest, and three of the deepest, in New Zealand.

The Society is administered by an executive “Council” which meets four times a year, consisting of the President, Secretary, Business Manager, and six other officers with special responsibilities. These are the:

• Search and Rescue Coordinator

• Conservation & Research Coordinator

• Training Coordinator

• Safety Coordinator

• Membership Coordinator

• Information and Publications Coordinator

Council officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Role descriptions for all council officers are laid out in the NZSS Handbook. You can contact council officers via the Contact Page.

The Council has the power to appoint persons from the Society's membership to serve as Society officers outside of Council. The officers appointed usually include the North Island and South Island Maps Officers, Tomo Times editor, Bulletin editor, and webmaster. Council members may hold these positions.

Any member of the Society may attend a Council meeting, and has speaking rights but not voting rights.

The Festival of Caving incorporates the Society's Annual General Meeting and is held every Labour Weekend in October. The AGM is held on the Saturday,  and is followed by the photographic and survey competitions and a semi-formal dinner. The Festival is hosted by a different group each year, usually in a location with many opportunities for caving. The host group organises a full weekend's programme of varied activities, including multiple caving trips.

Nominations for Council officers are called for prior to the AGM. If more than one nomination is received for a position, or the incumbent officer wishes to stand again and another one or more nominations are received for that position, a vote will be held. All members will be advised if a vote is to be held. For full details of the nomination and voting process refer to clause 11 of the constitution.