■ The Backcountry Trust (BCT) has welcomed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Conservation (DoC), building on their long-standing partnership and creating a framework for a more sustainable approach to maintaining New Zealand’s publicly accessible backcountry hut and track network.

■ The MOU builds on nearly a decade of partnership between BCT and DoC.

■ The shared goal is a resilient, sustainable and publicly accessible backcountry hut and track network.

■ The proposed model combines DoC’s role and expertise with BCT’s community relationships, volunteers, contractors and delivery capability.

■ BCT and DoC will now develop a national operational agreement, targeted for completion by the end of 2026.

■ Key details including funding, hut selection, responsibilities and performance measures are still to be agreed.

Since its establishment in 2017, BCT has worked alongside DoC, volunteers, community groups, contractors and supporters to restore and maintain hundreds of huts and thousands of kilometres of tracks across New Zealand, including in Waioweka where the Manganuku Hut received an upgrade in 2024.

BCT chair Kevin O’Connor said the MOU provided an opportunity to build on that experience and explore a more substantial operational partnership with DoC.

“Our focus is on helping ensure New Zealanders can continue to enjoy a resilient and accessible public backcountry hut and track network for generations to come,” O’Connor said.

“We see real potential in building on the partnership BCT and DoC have developed over the past decade.

“BCT’s role is to complement DoC’s work, bringing together community commitment, volunteers, contractors and other supporters to help care for the existing backcountry network.

“This MOU gives us the opportunity to work constructively with DoC on what a durable, sustainable, operational partnership could look like, while keeping the needs of the backcountry community at the centre of that work.”

The MOU was also a focus of discussion at the BCT Conference in Christchurch on Saturday, which brought together representatives from across New Zealand’s backcountry and outdoor recreation community, including DoC, Federated Mountain Clubs, the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, the New Zealand Alpine Club, Te Araroa Trust and Permolat.

Addressing the conference, Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager described the developing BCT-DoC partnership as recognition of BCT’s track record and “a really good model”, saying it created an opportunity to move beyond annual, project-by-project arrangements towards a longer-term plan backed by greater certainty, resources and funding.

The MOU sets out a shared intention to retain and maintain backcountry huts and tracks where possible, support a financially sustainable future for the backcountry network, harness the skills and experience of volunteers, communities and contractors, and explore new funding opportunities.

The next step is for BCT and DoC to develop a national operational agreement, with the aim of reaching agreement by the end of 2026.

The proposed operational agreement is intended to explore an expanded role for BCT in helping manage and maintain an agreed number of backcountry huts in partnership with DoC.

The huts would remain publicly owned and accessible, with DoC continuing to manage the majority of the country’s backcountry hut network.

The number of huts involved, their locations and the detailed responsibilities of each organisation are still to be determined.

The operational agreement will work through the practical details of the proposed model, including funding arrangements, the huts involved, maintenance standards and responsibilities, and how BCT and DoC will work together over the longer term.

The intention is to build a sustainable model that draws on the strengths of both organisations and BCT’s ability to bring together communities, volunteers, contractors and other supporters.

The MOU itself is non-binding and does not transfer ownership of DoC huts to BCT or determine the future of individual huts or tracks.

There are no immediate changes to the way huts and tracks are currently managed.

BCT has prepared an accompanying FAQ with more information about the MOU, the proposed operational agreement and what happens next.

Restoring Manganuku Hut

Manganuku Hut sits in the upper reaches of Manganuku Stream, part of the Waioeka River catchment, in Eastern Bay of Plenty.

A base for hunters and cullers, the hut had seen better days with leaks around the open fireplace and roof until Backcountry Trust headed in to give it a birthday in 2024.

The team consisted of Mole (Mulhern Builders), Coralie, Toby, Jake (J McKain Building), Josh (Tool Guys Ōpōtiki), Hedley Meacham, Sarah Millar, and Isabella Wilson.

Mulhern and his crew from Mulhern Builders spent three days before the trip prefabricating the woodshed, deck and verandah elements.

They were flown into the site on a Friday by Luke from Bay of Plenty Helicopters and within hours had the open fireplace removed, the plywood primed, the deck and verandah installed and the woodshed constructed and building wrapped.

The removal of the open fireplace was a sentimental affair, as it was originally fabricated by Mole’s dad, Pat, a local engineer who had folded a heap of steel fire surrounds for the Department of Conservation back in the early 90s.

By the time of their pickup rendezvous on Monday the hut had a new fireplace installed, new paint, a new roof along with deck and verandah.

This hut is usually accessed via a walk up the river, which requires multiple river crossings, so is best visited during the summer months, when the river is low.

But for the hardy winter tramper or hunter who can get the flows right between rain, it is now a wonderful place to curl up in front of the new wood burner after a hard, wet day.