Will Hansen talks to Mari North about camping at Vinegar Hill.
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This audio recording captures an intimate and reflective conversation between Will Hansen and Mari North about Mari’s long-standing relationship with Vinegar Hill, a queer camping community held annually at Vinegar Hill / Putai Ngahere Domain. Recorded in late December 2025, the discussion centres on Mari’s lived experience of community, belonging, and personal authenticity.
Mari opens by describing Vinegar Hill as her only experience of living in close community with hundreds of people over an extended period. She acknowledges that the camp brings together friends, strangers, and former partners, all sharing space in ways that might be challenging elsewhere. What distinguishes Vinegar Hill, she explains, is a deep sense of belonging. Even when moments are tricky, they feel manageable because she knows she belongs there. For Mari, this sense of belonging is fundamental and transformative.
She reflects on coming back to Wellington after living overseas for a number of years. She felt a strong need to reconnect with her queer community and saw Vinegar Hill as the place to do that. At the time, the practical realities of camping for several weeks felt daunting, so she negotiated sharing space with a friend who had a large tent and a strong personality. Mari describes herself as a “satellite” within that setup, someone who needed a home base to retreat to. This arrangement was important because, as she notes candidly, she has often felt the loneliest in groups of people. Having a place she could call home within the camp made it possible for her to fully participate.
Mari then compares her early experiences with her current camping setup, noting that she still considers herself a satellite. She describes the campsite she now shares with a friend whose camp becomes more elaborate each year. The presence of a dog and a fenced boundary creates a clear sense of space and intention, requiring visitors to consciously enter rather than wander through. Mari appreciates this boundary and speaks fondly of the dog, Vader, who has become a beloved part of her camp life. She also describes shared amenities such as a gazebo, which offers dry ground in wet mornings, and even a hot shower that can be unzipped to face the surrounding bush. For Mari, these comforts enhance rather than detract from the camping experience.
She explains that she has attended Vinegar Hill for many years. She emphasises that it takes a very good reason to stay away, because Vinegar Hill is the only place in the world where she feels she can live in community and feel completely comfortable. Mari does not feel pressure to participate in everything others do; instead, she values simply being among people she loves. She repeatedly frames her relationship to the camp as coming from a place of love.
When asked what makes the people at Vinegar Hill so special, Mari explains that attendees have chosen to be who they truly are. She contrasts this with her own upbringing, where she felt pressured to fit into strict social roles and not be authentic. At Vinegar Hill, people have made the courageous decision to be real, something she describes as dangerous in most places but safe here. She characterises the camp as “queer as queer can be” and finds that safety and openness profoundly affirming.
Mari describes queer life at Vinegar Hill as grounded in honesty rather than appearances. People may be smiling or not, clean or dirty, shaved or unshaved, and none of it matters. She talks about the immediacy of connection and the freedom from judgement around bodies, habits, or preferences. Conversations revolve around genuine interests and shared stories. She celebrates the diversity of the camp and notes that she is significantly older than many attendees, something she enjoys rather than resents. Having watched Vinegar Hill evolve over time, she observes changes such as the introduction of formal security, which allowed people to focus more on enjoyment rather than self-policing safety.
Mari also reflects on traditions and rhythms that have become part of her Vinegar Hill experience, particularly swimming in the river. Each year brings different conditions, from water levels to currents, and she recounts memorable swims that included unexpected challenges and delights.
In closing, Mari offers advice to queer people who have never attended Vinegar Hill. She encourages them to think carefully about what comforts them and to ensure they have a safe, welcoming place to return to within the camp. Having a bed or tent that feels like home, whether shared or private, makes it possible to fully embrace the adventures, connections, and joy that Vinegar Hill offers.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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