Southland Branch

^{Rakiura Hunter Camp Trust.}

The beginning:

During the late 1990's the Department of Conservation approached hunters, transport operators and other interested parties about the problems of site degradation and rubbish at campsites on Stewart Island.   Hunters are required to use the designated campsite and there is usually only one per block.

 Trees were being cut down to build temporary shelters and large amounts of plastic and other material were being left behind for the next party.  As most hunters brought their own equipment, surplus items left behind soon became rubbish. 

It is estimated some 3000 hunters visit Stewart Island every year.  Some of the busier blocks have over 100 people at the campsite every year.  Most parties stay at least seven days. 

Typical improvised shelter at Abrahams Bay

 Southern hunting groups were invited to a meeting at which it was accepted that hunters should do something about the problem. 

After numerous meetings,  various hut designs were evaluated.  DoC required that the cost of huts would be less than $5000 to avoid their having to pay a capital charge.

Design:

The plan was simple.   Each hut would be the same basic design. They would be fitted with 6 bunks, a 1000 litre watertank and a small meatsafe.  It was important to have a large cooking dinning area if the problems of improvised shelters were to be overcome.  The hut was constructed with tanalised ply and a Karaka coloursteel roof.  They are stained green to blend in with the surrounding vegetation.   Each hut is 3.6m x 8m of which 2m is veranda.   All huts have to comply with the building code and must be signed off by a building inspector.

Funding:

The Department of Conservation put up $20,000.   Individuals and hunting clubs (mainly NZDA Branches) contributed $26,000).    Rakirua Hunter Camp Charitable Trust was established to facilitate finance.  The Trust arranged grants of $30,000 from Southland Community Trust and $11,000 from Lotteries Community Grants.

The first five Trustees were Ray Phillips, John DeLury, Dave Howden, Hans Biemond and Ian Munro.  Hans and Ian have since been replaced by Colin Hopkins and Kerry Butson.

Fifteen sites were identified by hunters as being priority sites

The first two huts were built by Stewart Island Lions at North and South Pegasus in December 2000.

The hut at North Big Glory was funded, precut and built by members of Central Otago Deerstalkers Club.

All other huts have been precut by Ray, John & Dave at Ray's Invercargill home.

 These other huts have been built by members of NZDA Branches.  Little Glory, Hapuatuna, Chew Tobacco, South West Arm (Southland)  North Tikotatahi (Southland & Western Southland),  Kellys (Gore Branch),  Abrahams Bay (Southland , Taranaki & North Taranki). 

Abrahams Bay
Click here to view from Google Earth

North Lords River (Rakiura Maori Land)

Between November 2004 - October 2006 the Hunter Camp Trust built 5 huts on blocks owned by Rakiura Maori Land at South Tikotatahi, Little Kuri, Big Kuri, North Lords & South Lords.    Southland Branch members completed the building and were assisted at North Lords by West Coast Branch.   All labour has been voluntary.  The issues of rubbish and site degradation are the same for hunters, regardless of who owns the land.  All building costs of the five huts on Maori Land have been paid for by Rakiura Maori Land Trust.  No Hunter Camp Trust money has been spent of Maori Land huts.

The Trust has also took over the maintenance of existing huts at Port Adventure, Christmas Village, Cavalier,Homestead, Martins Creek.

Cavalier hut finished upgrade  November2008
Click here to view from Google Earth

A levy of $20 per hunter is required to be paid when booking a
 hunting block with a Trust hut.  This money is collected by DoC and paid quarterly to the Hunter Camp Trust.   All hut levy fees are put towards huts and maintenance.

With changes to the building code and price increases the current cost of new hut and toilet in 2006 is about $23,000.

This figure does not include transport or the 450 hours voluntary labour, which goes into building each hut.

• Everyone wins with this project.  It is about hunters doing something positive for their sport.

• The transport operator's benefit with hunters taking less gear to build shelters making landing's safer.

• Hunters win by not having to build and dismantle a cooking shelter.   This allows an extra day hunting time.  A small potbelly stove allows good drying and we are noticing hunters are taking bags of coal and precut wood to huts.  The Trust encourages hunters to take their own firewood to huts.

• Conservation wins by less site degradation and rubbish.   More hunting time also means more dead deer.