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A storm of protest followed a Department of Conservation announcement in the King Country News last week that it intended to demolish about 40 privately built huts in the Tongariro Forest.
Scores of posts opposing the demolition – plus a few in favour – appeared in Taumarunui social media following the story, and the response has apparently persuaded DOC to think again.
The secretary of the Central King Country branch of the NZ Deer Stalkers Association, Melissa Jackson, said she had been told DOC has paused plans to demolish the huts.
Melissa, who sits on the NZ Game Animal Council, said she was advised that DOC had halted plans to remove the huts from the Tongariro Forest for the time being, and would re-engage with local stakeholders before proceeding further.
The King Country News asked DOC to clarify the situation but had not received a response as this issue went to press.
Ōwhango identity Andy Harland, 70, who has been leading opposition to removal of the huts, has heard from three sources that some King Country-based DOC staff wanted no part in demolishing the structures. Andy said the huts, some of which had stood for decades, were essential for the continued safety of hunters, fishers, hikers and mountain bikers who roamed the forest and the 42nd Traverse. “They provide an essential refuge for all users of the area; obviously the shelter they provide could save lives if somebody is injured or suffering from exposure. “As for hunters, they provide the accommodation that enables us to shoot deer as they emerge from the forest and entered clearings in the early mornings and late evenings. “Without the ability to stay in the forest overnight we would be forced to do day-hunts only, with the consequence that it would only be possible to shoot a fraction of the deer we do now.” Andy, a former undercover policeman, said he had used the huts for many years and could say they were generally well built, and kept in good condition. But DOC principal investigation officer Matt Davis told King Country News that hunters seemed to regard the huts as their private property. Major issues included, “illegal vegetation clearance, rubbish dumping, fire hazards, and dumping of human waste”. “We are also aware of incidents where the structure has been built for the storage of ammunition and firearms.” Many had fireplaces and LPG gas bottles installed without safety compliance certification, “bringing a risk of fire and explosion”, Matt said. Andy had a different view, insisting the huts were available to all forest users, as had been the custom in the bush for as long as he could remember. He said they were essential as a safety measure for people using the Tongariro Forest and could save lives if somebody was injured or suffering from exposure. He challenged DOC to produce evidence of illegal vegetation clearance, rubbish and dumping of human waste etc. Having long-drop toilets at the huts was preferable to people using the bush as their toilet. Also, having stoves and gas cookers in situ was preferable to having people build open fires in the bush outside. He has never heard of firearms or ammunition being stored in huts. “And I take strong exception to the inference that gas cylinders could cause explosions. Gas cylinders for barbecues are now widely used in the community, they are everywhere, they are a known quantity, and the hunters who have installed them in these huts are generally far more technically minded than most members of the public. “I have never heard of one exploding or causing a fire.” Andy admits that in the past few days he has heard of crude shelters made of plastic sheeting appearing in the forest, which had beer bottles left around them. He is trying to learn more about these as he has not seen them. “But all the hunters I know pack their own rubbish out of the bush.” Last month DOC staff began leaving notices in the huts saying they were illegal and would be demolished within 28 days. Additional notices left in the huts said items within them were being seized for safe keeping. In one case, the notice said a machete, hatchet, knife, “illegal stove”, califont gas heater and two saws, had been seized on the grounds of “safety, evidence, fire risk and to prevent damage”.
