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ALBUM - This hut was recently rediscovered in the lower Taipo River area.
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DescriptionThis hut was recently rediscovered in the lower Taipo River area. A friend and I heard about it and went and had a look. We do not know its history and wonder if any group members know anything definitive about it?
This hut/bivvy, to me, looks similar to late NZFS (New Zealand Forest Service) era high stud bivvies used by hunters and sometimes research workers. However as yet I have not heard from any ex NZFS employee who worked in Westland during this time period of circa 1970 -1987 that thinks this was an official NZFS build. It has been suggested it may have been a private build done by someone with knowledge of NZFS building practices?Map[1] ContributorGlenn Johnston
This hut/bivvy, to me, looks similar to late NZFS (New Zealand Forest Service) era high stud bivvies used by hunters and sometimes research workers. However as yet I have not heard from any ex NZFS employee who worked in Westland during this time period of circa 1970 -1987 that thinks this was an official NZFS build. It has been suggested it may have been a private build done by someone with knowledge of NZFS building practices?Map[1] ContributorGlenn Johnston
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Location (city or town)Taipo RiverEventThis hut was recently rediscovered in the lower Taipo River area.
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Category Taghuts
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Date Created7th October 2024CommentsBill Edens
It was built by Colin Yates, I think in late 70s when he was meat shooting in the Taipo
Glenn Johnston
Author
Bill Edens Colin had a camp on the other side of the river that I know about but it is conceivable that he built more than one hut/camp. It had crossed my mind that Colin may also have been involved with this one but don't know for sure. I met Colin several times when in my teens (early 1970's) and know he was an ex NZFS EF worker and culler so if this is his work it would explain the similarity in design to NZFS builds with which he would be familiar.
Tania Newman
Is it the 7 mile hut? Used to tramp up there. Awesome area
Glenn Johnston
Author
Tania Newman No it is not. That one is on the other side of the river and in more open surroundings.
Phil Wright
There is a few around from when the possum prices were huge in the late 70s early 80s,a chopper would drop in a NZRail cover,and they cut birch poles to make a bivy!
Joan Fitzgerald
My husband Mike Fitzgerald would like to know where this hut is situated as he spent many years on deer and possum recovery in the Taipo and Griffin Range area with Colin Yates, Red Duckett and Paddy Griffin. Is it in Rocky Creek or a side creek of the Taipo
Glenn Johnston
Author
Joan Fitzgerald It is on the TL of the Taipo above the track in to Rocky Creek. It is fairly easy to get to and only about 1.5km as the crow flies from the Taipo road bridge. (a bit further to walk than that though as you don't travel directly to it)
Colin Harman
Can remember meeting Colin Yates in the late 60s, he always wore leather shorts, we built a Tent camp up river from where he camped as we were using the trap lines that had been put there for experimental work for the forestry
Merv Nicolle
I vaugley remember Colin when i was in nzfs on the coasti in early seventies.
Lou Sanson
Incredible
Rewa Raymond
Richard Strong
Paul Thompson
It was built by Colin Yates and another hunter whose name escapes me at the moment,he was a bricklayer/builder from hoki,on the tip of my tongue,used for veno and coons late 60s early70s.
Glenn Johnston
Author
Thank you Paul Thompson. So Colin must have had more than one hut/camp excluding the old Dillons homestead that he also used as a residence.
Glenn Johnston
Author
Was it Alan Duckett you were trying to think of Paul Thompson? His nickname was "Red". He was an ex Government Culler that had once shot the Taipo block so had a lot in common with Colin Yeates. I remember when he lived at Three Mile with wife Barbara.
Kay Godfrey
Paul Thompson Paul - was it Alan Duckett ?
Liam Sharp
Did U guys stay in it ?
Kris Jolly
Yes built by Colin and Alan there was also a punga wall with canvas roof hut just in at the end of the track up on the left. Spent a lot of holiday time in there with Colin trapping possums and shooting. Moved around a few huts mainly staying at Dillon’s. Was a great time of my life.
Diane Breeze
My brother in law Eric Vosper shot all around up that way .And he also had a hand in building some of those huts .He lived at Kumara Junction.
Sam Von Speight
Cameron Eddy look familiar?
David Knipe
Bruce Dando may know, he flew his Piper cub in there in the seventies and had a bit of a b ivy but was up stream of 7 mile towards Dunns creek.Around 73/74 did visit his setup but can’t recall what it looked like.
Edited
Bill Edens
It was built by Colin Yates, I think in late 70s when he was meat shooting in the Taipo
It was built by Colin Yates, I think in late 70s when he was meat shooting in the Taipo
Glenn Johnston
Author
Bill Edens Colin had a camp on the other side of the river that I know about but it is conceivable that he built more than one hut/camp. It had crossed my mind that Colin may also have been involved with this one but don't know for sure. I met Colin several times when in my teens (early 1970's) and know he was an ex NZFS EF worker and culler so if this is his work it would explain the similarity in design to NZFS builds with which he would be familiar.
Tania Newman
Is it the 7 mile hut? Used to tramp up there. Awesome area
Glenn Johnston
Author
Tania Newman No it is not. That one is on the other side of the river and in more open surroundings.
Phil Wright
There is a few around from when the possum prices were huge in the late 70s early 80s,a chopper would drop in a NZRail cover,and they cut birch poles to make a bivy!
Joan Fitzgerald
My husband Mike Fitzgerald would like to know where this hut is situated as he spent many years on deer and possum recovery in the Taipo and Griffin Range area with Colin Yates, Red Duckett and Paddy Griffin. Is it in Rocky Creek or a side creek of the Taipo
Glenn Johnston
Author
Joan Fitzgerald It is on the TL of the Taipo above the track in to Rocky Creek. It is fairly easy to get to and only about 1.5km as the crow flies from the Taipo road bridge. (a bit further to walk than that though as you don't travel directly to it)
Colin Harman
Can remember meeting Colin Yates in the late 60s, he always wore leather shorts, we built a Tent camp up river from where he camped as we were using the trap lines that had been put there for experimental work for the forestry
Merv Nicolle
I vaugley remember Colin when i was in nzfs on the coasti in early seventies.
Lou Sanson
Incredible
Rewa Raymond
Richard Strong
Paul Thompson
It was built by Colin Yates and another hunter whose name escapes me at the moment,he was a bricklayer/builder from hoki,on the tip of my tongue,used for veno and coons late 60s early70s.
Glenn Johnston
Author
Thank you Paul Thompson. So Colin must have had more than one hut/camp excluding the old Dillons homestead that he also used as a residence.
Glenn Johnston
Author
Was it Alan Duckett you were trying to think of Paul Thompson? His nickname was "Red". He was an ex Government Culler that had once shot the Taipo block so had a lot in common with Colin Yeates. I remember when he lived at Three Mile with wife Barbara.
Kay Godfrey
Paul Thompson Paul - was it Alan Duckett ?
Liam Sharp
Did U guys stay in it ?
Kris Jolly
Yes built by Colin and Alan there was also a punga wall with canvas roof hut just in at the end of the track up on the left. Spent a lot of holiday time in there with Colin trapping possums and shooting. Moved around a few huts mainly staying at Dillon’s. Was a great time of my life.
Diane Breeze
My brother in law Eric Vosper shot all around up that way .And he also had a hand in building some of those huts .He lived at Kumara Junction.
Sam Von Speight
Cameron Eddy look familiar?
David Knipe
Bruce Dando may know, he flew his Piper cub in there in the seventies and had a bit of a b ivy but was up stream of 7 mile towards Dunns creek.Around 73/74 did visit his setup but can’t recall what it looked like.
Edited
Bill Edens
It was built by Colin Yates, I think in late 70s when he was meat shooting in the Taipo
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West Coast New Zealand History (8th Oct 2024). ALBUM - This hut was recently rediscovered in the lower Taipo River area.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 24th Mar 2026 03:59, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34095