Thread: The demise of Aranga Hut, Ruahine's

The thread "Snow on The Kawekas" by grandpamac had me posting a few photo's up in reply. Then BRADS recognised a hut in one of them, Aranga Hut. AKA "Hut Ruin" which was an ominous name of things to come.
I used to love staying there and hunting the surrounding area out to and including Mistake Bivy, Rockslide Bivy and Kylie Biv, all under DOC control back then.
And it was always a good blowout getting there, either up The Golden Crown or Sentry Box spur.
Every year I did at least one annual pilgrimage, often two, on a big wide loop, soaking up the grandeur of the Northern Ruahine's. But by 2018 my heart & my spirit was broken, and despite DOC finally admitting ( I think ) that Aranga Hut was indeed mere meters on their side of the boundary, They did nothing to the hut and a new breed of visitors slowly fed the wooden bunks and even the huts framework into the fireplace. And all this to a hut that's at least 3 to 4 hours grind from any public access point.
I shall let the photo's do the talking, Starting with the 1st photo of her in her prime in 1979
Just per chance someone knows of the old girl receiving some TLC recently or to come in the near future, I apologize for my rant and will accept that news as my best Xmas present ever.







The spoils once you were there

You still have the same haircut

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

You still have the same haircut

I've saved a few bullets over the years by walking up and cutting a deer's throat while it was rolling around on the ground laughing.
I always assumed it was my legs they were laughing at ??

Yes it’s very sad indeed.
As you say it’s a bute spot up there and I personally have some great memories of many trips as a teenager staying there learning to hunt the surrounding area.
I even remember spending a night there with you Rod on your way back after one of your raids out Ruahine Corner way. I’m picking it was labour weekend 1996 😆😆 I was 17 and it’s safe to say me and my mate were slightly awestruck that evening!!

Originally Posted by kimber08

Yes it’s very sad indeed.
As you say it’s a bute spot up there and I personally have some great memories of many trips as a teenager staying there learning to hunt the surrounding area.
I even remember spending a night there with you Rod on your way back after one of your raids out Ruahine Corner way. I’m picking it was labour weekend 1996 ���� I was 17 and it’s safe to say me and my mate were slightly awestruck that evening!!

Wow..... your memory is damned good..... I've just looked up my hunting diary. It was Labour Weekend 1997 and I'd got dropped off on the Taihape Rd and walked into Makirikiri Hut via the Otupae Range. Then onto Ruahine Corner and out via Aranga Hut to Sentry Box hut at Mangleton..... Small world

This hut is on the radar of the back country trust...here's hoping...

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Wow..... your memory is damned good..... I've just looked up my hunting diary. It was Labour Weekend 1997 and I'd got dropped off on the Taihape Rd and walked into Makirikiri Hut via the Otupae Range. Then onto Ruahine Corner and out via Aranga Hut to Sentry Box hut at Mangleton..... Small world

Ha! I wasn’t too far off 👍

Originally Posted by Hindquarters

This hut is on the radar of the back country trust...here's hoping...

Yep i have heard that there is a submission in to rebuild it, hopefully it goes ahead.

Originally Posted by Hindquarters

This hut is on the radar of the back country trust...here's hoping...

Having had several good looks at it, I'd say its a total replacement, to my untrained eye anyway. Nothing looks suitable for salvaging