Thread: Proposed new hut fee system.

as a ranger of 35 years experience booking a bunk no what if the person who books it is not there the old system of good old kiwis fitting in has worked for years why change it - I remember as a Ranger Te Urewera having a young tramper top and tail with me when the hut was full no problem - her feet were inside a sleeping bag - thats the kiwi way - no problem

These proposals get put forward because the people in charge feel they are good ideas. Look for them to at least partially happen.

My concern is how it affects the hunting community, as we use these places a bit different to the average, and when it comes to decision making, we are not often considered.

At worst case scenario, 57 bucks a night is an additional 350-400 dollars for a week in the mountains hunting per person.

The booking system is absolute crap for us. Most of the bookable huts now are booked out well in advance, meaning you have no option to consider the weather.

And even when I don't intend to use the hut, I do rely on it as being there in case of bad weather. Ive had really mixed results from hut wardens when Ive shown up too a hut because the weather on the tops has been shit and or there's a storm coming. Over half have been really good when I explain. but some have been prepared to read me the riot act, even when I say Im happy to sleep on the floor.

Trying to work out even 2 weeks in advance, what nights you will be in the hut, and what nights you will be out and away camping etc is near on impossible if you are making the best of a trip.

I'm all for some sort of payment, although the reality is doc have no budget and 3rd party groups do a lot of the work on these basic huts / bivs
(back country trust, nzda, fmc, even 4x4 groups, sika foundation, fiordland wapiti foundation, tramping groups etc...)

I have done volunteer for the back country trust in the kawekas and doc's involvement financially was zero, although they did have supply a staff member

Maybe a pass for like $40 a year that gives access to all basic huts / bivs?
Bookings would be a cluster 100%