A tribute to a great writer and photographer who did more than anyone to encourage knowledge and appreciation of New Zealand’s wild places.

In June, the New Zealand backcountry community lost one of its finest authors, photographers and advocates. Many of us also lost a tramping mate, mentor and friend. 

This is a tribute to Shaun Barnett. And to his family, Tania, Tom, Lee and Lexi and sister Ange, who enveloped Shaun into a cocoon of love and comfort when it was most needed, and who opened their home and hearts to let so many of Shaun’s friends say goodbye.

Shaun died, aged 55, about a year after being diagnosed with brain cancer. The way he faced that sentence and the way he lived his entire life set an example to all of those fortunate to have known him. 

His writing and images have been an integral part of Wilderness magazine for more than 25 years. He was editor for four of those, and as roving editor he continued, with Tania’s help, writing articles until the very end. Some are yet to be published. His stories always came from his own experiences, were thoroughly researched, and spoke from the heart. Shaun’s knowledge of all things related to New Zealand’s backcountry, the landscapes, the tracks and huts and the people involved throughout its history, is possibly unsurpassed. His writing was meticulous, informative and engaging, his photography thoughtful, honest, and always beautiful.

And he wrote so much more. He was the FMC’s Backcountry magazine editor for 10 years. Books he authored or co-authored, and adorned with his magnificent photography, included Classic Tramping in New Zealand (with Rob Brown), Shelter From The Storm and A Bunk for the Night (both with Rob Brown and Geoff Spearpoint), Tramping: A New Zealand History (with Chris Maclean), Day Walks in New Zealand, North Island Weekend Tramps, Natural New Zealand, and Leading the Way – 100 years of the Tararua Tramping Club (with Chris Maclean). He selected the stories for Across the Pass, an anthology of New Zealand tramping writing. Many of these books won awards. But their more important legacy is the huge number of people they introduced into the world of tramping in New Zealand’s backcountry.

Shaun completed a BSc in zoology. After years of biodiversity work with DOC, he became one of the few people to make a successful vocation through writing and photography. He managed his freelancing around caring for Tom, Lee and Lexi, to fit in with Tania’s work. 

Tramping, climbing, snow-shoeing, rock climbing, kayaking and tubing adventures were an essential part of his busy agenda. In 2021, on a climbing trip to Tasman Hut with his good mate Pete Laurenson, he notched up his 800th backcountry hut. He subsequently added more.

And somehow, Shaun found time to contribute even more to our backcountry legacy. As the FMC representative on the NZ Geographic Board, he shared his knowledge of the origins of post-European place names in the backcountry, at the same time learning about original iwi names, and acknowledging their importance for identity and connectivity for iwi. He edited reports of volunteer hut projects for the Backcountry Trust, a task that grew significantly as the Trust’s role bourgeoned and for which he was ideally suited, given his own grasp of the history of nearly every hut he wrote about. For many years, he tutored on NZ Photography Workshop tours, helping clients explore the wonders of landscape photography. His own photography has also appeared in international publications, and he was a regular judge for annual Wilderness and FMC photo competitions. 

Since 2016, he has been a volunteer trapper for the Remutaka Conservation Trust, which often meant rushing back after a five-hour circuit encompassing the steep McKerrow Ridge to play in his sons’ floorball league. He was part of a Mountain Safety Council Advisory Group. He gave book reviews on national radio and he led writing workshops, encouraging new writers at the annual NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival.

Then there is Shaun the man, and the mentor. Kind, generous, giving. For anyone who showed an interest in outdoor writing or photography he would, no matter how busy, share his expertise, advice and encouragement. And he was funny. You had to love those Dad jokes.

The way he faced that cursed tumour is an inspiration. It was diagnosed in July. In August, he led an overnight camping trip around a stormy Wellington South Coast. He wasn’t well, but this was a ‘tramp local’ story he’d committed to write for a Backcountry carbon emissions feature. Five of us battled the wind, our boots sank into soft shingle, fishermen in 4WDs gazed at us like stunned mullets, as we strode out with packs loaded with tents and winter gear. Shaun was, of course, busy with his camera. There were seals, shags, a raging surf, and his crazy companions to record. All night, torrential rain and a Cook Strait gale blasted our tents; miraculously they survived. The resulting story was epic Shaun. Full of personality, history, facts and inspiration.

Shaun has been described as a legend, and rightly so. Yet the treasure of the man was his humility. When a Givealittle page was set up to help Shaun and his family he was blown away by the response. “All these people, I don’t even know them, they are helping me and writing about what a difference my books have made to their lives. I just feel so humble,” he would say.

Ko te whakaiti te whare o te whakaaro nui

Humility is the citadel of wisdom

Go well Shaun.