List of West Coast mountain guides

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DescriptionIn one small area of South Westland, New Zealand, in Heretaniwha (Bruce Bay), Hunts Beach, Mahitahi and Jacobs River, a small group of Maori families made a huge contribution to New Zealand mountain exploration. Here is a photo of two Kaumatua, Bob Wilson (left) with Jack Bannister (1991) who shared so much information with me about their whanau.
Here is a list of mountain guides from Bruce Bay (Heretaniwha), Mahitahi and Jacobs River that I use in my presentation on Mountaineering history of South Westland.
1835 Kere Tutoko crosses Harper saddle ( age 12) from Greymouth to Kaiapoi.
1865 Tutoko is a guide to Mueller for some years.
Ruera Te Nahi (Bill the Maori) joins Douglas & Harper for a 19-week surveying trip.
1895 Fitzgerald & Zurbriggen meet Dan Te Koeti at Scott's Karangarua. (impressed) Dan could carry water pipes weighing 140lbs. Dan's brothers Mark and Butler become guides too.
1905 Peter Graham invites Butler Te Koeti to Hermitage. Graham and Butler guide Annie Lindon. (Butler Te Koeti's name was recorded as B.Kosti in records.)
1910 Butler brings 17-year-old George Bannister to Aoraki MC. First as a porter, then guide. Teams up with Darby Thomson and. Guides Sam Turner.
1912 Climbs Aoraki MC with Samuel Turner.
Jim Bannister (brother) with Darby Thomson does 3rd ascent of Sefton with Samuel Turner. Another brother Bill Bannister builds the first wooden bridge across the Hooker.
George walks from Bruce Bay to Hokitika to enlist for WW One.Rejected for flat feet. Walks 400 km home. George guides into the 30s.
1924 Joe Fluerty's name starts appearing in hut books around Franz and Fox. This legendary South Westland guide. With Jack Cox and Jack Pope, Joe does the 1st ascent of Tasman from the west, 1932. He guides for 18 years.
Below is my blog with more information on this subject.
http://bobmckerrow.blogspot.com/.../maori-mountaineers...Map^[1]ContributorBob McKerrow

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EventList of West Coast mountain guides

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Date Created28th January 2021CommentsAlan Pegley
Remember Jack Bannister very well. He used to come into my sports shop in Hokitika. I think he had a Japanese wife.

Mary Prendergast
Thank you Bob for sharing. Oh what a special time you must’ve had sitting and listening to those hardy Kaumatua despite the sand flies.

Sandra Douglas
Interesting history. I used fill the the car&bus up with fuel at Ross Mtrs in 70’snot sure now if it was jack or Bill. Got called “Girlie”he came over every whitebait season from chch?always had a tale to tell.

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List of West Coast mountain guides

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