Tree climbers worldwide recognise the 'fern climber' image designed by Zane Wedding as the de facto New Zealand tree climbing icon. But don't take the illustration too literally. Anyone familiar with the Ponga (silver fern) will know the mature tree only grows to about 10m, and it's impossible to climb at the tips of this frond (with or without PPE), but that's the point of the image. It's only possible if you are part of a Kiwi fraternity that can 'climb everything'.
'Climb Everything' as a concept first appeared in the early days of social media, with the image of a flare burning brightly atop the Victoria Park Market chimney. For those outside New Zealand, Victoria Park is a historic building in downtown Auckland featuring a landmark 38m brick chimney. Aloft in a London Plane opposite the Victoria Park chimney, tree climbers captured the photographic moment; two 'climb everything' climbers free-climbed the chimney in the dark of the night. If you look at the chimney today, the feat seems impossible (much like climbing a Ponga frond).
Larrikins will be larrikins, as attested by the Victoria Park antic. But the Climb Everything crew had bigger and more audacious missions in the pipeline, giving the brand even more street cred.
Bottled water manufacturer Pump was not pleased when the Climb Everything crew asked them to redeem a 100-square-meter PVC '1 Free Pump' coupon cut from a downtown (multi- $ $ $) billboard in broad daylight. It was another impossible climb.
From climbing into active volcanoes or protesting the destruction of our urban native trees to running Real SRT Workshops, members of the Climb Everything crew significantly influenced the development of tree climbing in New Zealand (and Australia).
Over time, even as the Climb Everything brand influence dwindled, Zane's 'fern climber' image entered Kiwi tree-climbing folklore, becoming the de facto icon, unofficially representing NZ tree climbing. Today, the 'fern climber' decal remains one of the most popular stickers from Treetools.
For 2025, Treetools further cements the Climb Everything legend by producing the custom Protos F39 'Fern Climber' Visor. The 'fern climber' visor is only available in New Zealand.
