Huts

The back country of New Zealand contains a heritage of about 1400 huts that is unequalled anywhere in the world.

These huts were built for the following reasons:

Workers who contributed to maintenance
on Tataweka Hut to restore it

• wild animal control (~750)
• sheep mustering (~500)
• recreation (~150)
• a range of other purposes including prospecting, scientific studies and castaway sustenance.

Others began life as schools and homes and later became huts. These huts have heritage value as the only physical remnant of these activities.

Because the huts were built in remote locations the provision of building materials was a big constraint. Often the resources available on site were exploited, with the result that many old crafts were applied for the last times including: splitting, hewing, pit sawing and cob. Alternatively, if materials were transported to the site, it was on the backs of men or packhorses, and this strongly influenced the design like the use of sheet tin cladding that was carried rolled up. The result is vernacular buildings that are physically distinctive from those found closer to civilisation.

DOC is identifying a representative selection of key historic huts that can be managed long term to conserve this heritage and allow its appreciation. It is intended to have interpretation signs provided for each historic hut.

Sites

DOC actively manages these sites representing this theme:

Northland

• Cape Brett Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, 1908, Manawahuna Scenic Reserve

Waikato

• Bog Inn Hut, 1969, Maniapoto
• Mangatutu Hut, Maniapoto
• Musterers' Hut, Coromandel
• Pinnacles Hut, Kauaeranga Valley Historic Reserve 
• Poley Bay Musterers' Hut, 1900, Hauraki
• Wildlife Hut, Maniapoto

Bay of Plenty

• Rogers Hut, 1952, Rangitaiki 

East Coast/Hawke’s Bay

• Ellis Hut, 1884, Napier
• Iron Whare, 1875, Napier
• Kahanui Hut 1965 ,Gisborne
• Manson Hut, 1948, Napier
• Robson’s Lodge, 1908, Napier
• Shutes Hut, 1920, Napier
• Te Totara Hut, 1952, Aniwaniwa
• Te Waiotukapiti Hut, 1956, Aniwaniwa

Tongariro/Taupo

• Glacier Hut, 1923, Tongariro National Park
• Kaikawaka Villa, 1933, Tongariro Forest Park
• Stanfields Whare, 1959, Kaimanawa Forest Park
• Waihohonu Hut, 1904, Tongariro National Park

Wanganui

• Camphouse, 1855/1899, Mt Egmont-Taranaki
• Downes Hut, 1920, Whanganui River
• Whakahoro Hut (former school house), 1946, Whanganui River

Wellington

• Cone Hut, 1946, Wairarapa
• Field Hut, 1924, Kapiti
• Glory Bay Cottage, c1865, Pitt Island
• Pararaki Hut (wild animal control), 1964, Wairarapa
• The Whare, 1880, Kapiti

Nelson/Marlborough

• Asbestos Cottage, 1897, Golden Bay
• Black Spur Hut, 1900, Clarence Reserve
• Bluff Dump Hut, 1928, Clarence Reserve
• Booth’s Cottage, 1933, St Arnaud
• Cecil Kings Hut, 1935, Motueka
• Downies Hut, 1900, St Arnaud
• Horse Flat Hut, 1909, Clarence Reserve
• Molesworth Cob Cottage, 1866
• Old Willows Hut, 1922, Clarence Reserve
• Quail Flat Cob House, 1860
• Saloon Quarters, 1900, Clarence Reserve
• Tent Poles Hut, 1928, Clarence Reserve
• Whariwharangi Hut, 1896. Golden Bay

West Coast

• Almer Hut, 1950, Westland National Park
• Blowfly Hut, 1908, Haast Paringa Cattle Track - Blue River Hut (Blowfly Hut)
• Cape Defiance Hut, 1912, Westland National Park
• Cedar Flat Hut, 1957, Toaroha Valley
• Chancellor Hut, 1931, Westland National Park
• Croesus Top Hut, 1931, Creosus-Moonlight Historic Area
• Garden Gully Hut, 1931, Creosus-Moonlight Historic Area
• Hende’s Hut, 1907, Westland National Park, Roberts Point Track 
• Locke Stream Hut, 1939
• Prices Flat Hut, 1908, Whitcombe Pass
• Slaty Creek Hut, 1952, Waiheke River Track

Canterbury

• Back Basins Hut, 1957, Waimakariri
• Bealey Spur Hut, 1925, Waimakariri
• Dasler Bivouac, 1966, Hopkins Valley, Twizel
• Hideaway Hut, c1890, Twizel
• Hooker Hut, 1910, Aoraki/Mt Cook
• Jack's Hut, 1879, Waimakariri
• Lake Emma Hut, 1870, Raukapuka
• Locke Stream (No 4) Hut, 1939, Waimakariri
• Number Three Hut, 1939, North Canterbury
• Quailburn (East Ahuriri) Hut, 1880, Twizel
• Red Hut, Hopkins Valley, 1916, Twizel
• Sefton Bivouac, 1917, Aoraki/Mt Cook
• Sign of the Packhorse Hut, 1916, North Canterbury
• Urquhart's Hut, 1933, Waimakariri
• West Harper Hut, 1957, Waimakariri

Otago

• Ben Avon Hut, 1930, Dingle Burn 
• Callery’s House & Callery’s Battery Building, 1889-1850, Golden Point
• Macetown Village, built 1862 – 1914

Southland

• Antipodes Island Castaway Provision Depot, 1908
• Caswell Sound Hut, 1949, Caswell Sound
• Clark Hut, 1940, Grebe Valley
• Dog Box Hut, 1913, Eyre Creek
• Freeman Burn Hut, 1935, Lake Manapouri
• Snares Island Castaway Provision Depot, 1880
• Stella Hut, Enderby Island, 1880
• Te Anau Downs Stockman’s Hut, 1883

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