"""Without landowners granting us access, our group could not exist, as most caves in this region are on private property,"" says Andy Bagley (far right), president of the Nelson Speleological Group. Taking advantage of a covenant affording access to New Zealand's deepest caves, members of the 40-strong association (including, from left, Gary Willis, Laura Hart and Steve Foote, as well as Bagley) plan sorties from a hut on Takaka Hill to explore an environment that is also home to colourful native parakeets and Powelliphanta, the giant carnivorous snail."
{}