Evaluating HutReno’s Mt Taranaki Project

Making effective use of each volunteer’s energy, skill-set and dedication along with DOC’s time, resources and logistics has meant the outcome of this project was very successful. This is important given 2020 Covid restrictions, weather, the number of volunteers, skill-set and proximity of the project to road end.

As with any project, lessons can always be learned. The following observations highlight the combined achievements and improvements:

• The volunteer effort at North Egmont’s Camphouse was the first in an ongoing relationship in DOC’s Taranaki Region. Each volunteer helped cement this relationship for which I am very grateful. If DOC’s schedule goes according to plan, HutReno may be asked to repaint Holly Hut or other volunteer work in the region during the summer of 2022.
• Unfortunately, volunteer work on the second project: The Maketawa Hut wasn’t able to processed due to the completion of building and engineering work etc.
• DOC’s Daily Check In, Health and Safety and Work Schedule was great management and contributed to the smooth running of each day without incident.
• The team working on track clearance and relining the board walk with nonslip plastic netting from close to the visitor centre to the Camphouse were untiring in their efforts.
• It become apparent that I hadn’t specified the use of the HutReno website for recording and determining Health, Volunteer Protocols and Skill-Set at the time individuals want to volunteer. This was an unprofessional oversite on my part and will not occur next time round.
• An extra day would have been helpful to finish painting window frames, front door, lower timber at the base of the building and help DOC finish the top coat on the Camphouse iron cladding etc. However, the volunteers who worked on this historic building (the oldest of its kind in any NZ National Park) have helped breathe extra life into this significant 1860 to 1881 Land Wars Relic. What an honour!
• Where possible it would be helpful if remedial repairs eg: Rotting timber at the base of the front door frames and under the eves in front of room five were repaired beforehand.
• Depending on the nature of each project, it would be important for DOC to decide on the time required, or whether a second volunteer effort on the same project would be an option. This wouldn’t preclude volunteers from determining their own time frame.
• With future projects, it would be a good idea to have an option for volunteers who may want to spend time hiking in the backcountry following the completion of a HutReno project.
• Special thanks to Jonathan for his sojourn and description of the Camino de Santiago Trail that he and his wife completed and to Alasdair for this moving account of family connections to the establishment of the Camphouse on the slopes of Mt Taranaki. Both reflections helped fill the evenings with much laughter, helpful insight and great conversation.

The Demise of the Christopher Hut Project

• Covid restrictions prevented HutReno from helping DOC renovate Christopher’s Hut on the St James Walk Way in March of this year.
• This was further hindered by not being able to find another project in the Lewis Pass area or beyond for the second group of enthusiastic volunteers.
• While DOC completed most of the work on this Hut, the first week in March 2022 is set aside for volunteering out of Hanmer Springs.