Comments on: A snapshot of New Zealand conservation history http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/327 Wellington-biased back-country tramping in New Zealand Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:16:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mike McGavin http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/327/comment-page-1#comment-4521 Mike McGavin Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:59:34 +0000 http://www.windy.gen.nz/?p=327#comment-4521 Hi Robb. I haven't had much of a problem with choppers but I haven't visited the Ruahines anywhere near as often as yourself. This would be a seasonal thing presumably, is it? Maybe there's a case for a designated wilderness area, or something similar in part of the Ruahines, to provide some space where helicopters can't buzz around all the time. I've heard several times that alpine shrubs such (especially Leatherwood) were never, ever a problem in the Ruahines and Tararuas when deer were populous, which is interesting given that it's near impossible to go exploring for new routes near the bush-line these days without <em>expecting</em> to be crawling through the stuff at 100 metres an hour (and I think that's for the better). It reminded me of some of the old hut book comments from Howletts Hut, which the nice people of the Heretaunga Tramping Club have reproduced and left up there for all visitors to read, and I imagine you've probably seen at one time or another. I took some photos of the notes a few months ago, and here's a snapshot from one of the pages in 1952: <strong>14th.</strong> Leaving this morning for Milnes. Hut tidy and packed with firewood. And fresh tussock. We all agree that this is "our best roar ever". 37 deer without getting wet! MB Forward. C Baines. FA Howard. ..... <strong>25th - 27th October 1952.</strong> One fine Labour Weekend. Shot 13 deer, saw about a hundred, but most of them had seen us first. MB Forward, J Tarrance, D Tarrance, D Lawson, P Brown, (Porangahao) ..... <strong>24/12/52.</strong> Back again from Pohangina after a month insistent rain. <strong>25th, Christmas 1952.</strong> A great day, not a cloud in the sky, warm. Shot Tiraha, 14 deer. <strong>26th.</strong> Cloudy. Had a look at Sawtooth. No deer. <strong>27th.</strong> Fine day. <strong>28th.</strong> Misty. <strong>29th.</strong> Back to Pohangina. 25 deer. Govt cullers. ...... <strong>Wed 25th March.</strong> E Kelan (Soil Conservation Council), J G Groome (NZFS). Arrived 5.30PM from Mill farm via Daphne Spur (6 hrs), and found GRJ Mitcheson at hut having just arrived from Rangiwahia Hut (5 hrs). Several stags roaring in Tukituki River, <strong>26th March.</strong> Left hut 6.30am for Tiraha with 31 lb lump of Rock Salt, which we packed in previous day. Keen to see if deer will lick some, & provide a method of poisoning the b------'s. Deposited same near tarn to west of Tiraha. Weather excellent, few roars on ...... Hunting's not my thing but from everything I know, a hunter today could only <em>dream</em> of shooting 37 deer in an outing, let alone seeing "about 100"! And I suppose that's just a demonstration of how out of control they were at the time. I hope the hearings go well. Hi Robb. I haven’t had much of a problem with choppers but I haven’t visited the Ruahines anywhere near as often as yourself. This would be a seasonal thing presumably, is it? Maybe there’s a case for a designated wilderness area, or something similar in part of the Ruahines, to provide some space where helicopters can’t buzz around all the time.

I’ve heard several times that alpine shrubs such (especially Leatherwood) were never, ever a problem in the Ruahines and Tararuas when deer were populous, which is interesting given that it’s near impossible to go exploring for new routes near the bush-line these days without expecting to be crawling through the stuff at 100 metres an hour (and I think that’s for the better). It reminded me of some of the old hut book comments from Howletts Hut, which the nice people of the Heretaunga Tramping Club have reproduced and left up there for all visitors to read, and I imagine you’ve probably seen at one time or another. I took some photos of the notes a few months ago, and here’s a snapshot from one of the pages in 1952:

14th. Leaving this morning for Milnes. Hut tidy and packed with firewood. And fresh tussock. We all agree that this is “our best roar ever”. 37 deer without getting wet! MB Forward. C Baines. FA Howard.

…..

25th – 27th October 1952. One fine Labour Weekend. Shot 13 deer, saw about a hundred, but most of them had seen us first. MB Forward, J Tarrance, D Tarrance, D Lawson, P Brown, (Porangahao)

…..

24/12/52. Back again from Pohangina after a month insistent rain.
25th, Christmas 1952. A great day, not a cloud in the sky, warm. Shot Tiraha, 14 deer.
26th. Cloudy. Had a look at Sawtooth. No deer.
27th. Fine day.
28th. Misty.
29th. Back to Pohangina. 25 deer. Govt cullers.

……

Wed 25th March. E Kelan (Soil Conservation Council), J G Groome (NZFS). Arrived 5.30PM from Mill farm via Daphne Spur (6 hrs), and found GRJ Mitcheson at hut having just arrived from Rangiwahia Hut (5 hrs). Several stags roaring in Tukituki River,
26th March. Left hut 6.30am for Tiraha with 31 lb lump of Rock Salt, which we packed in previous day. Keen to see if deer will lick some, & provide a method of poisoning the b——’s. Deposited same near tarn to west of Tiraha. Weather excellent, few roars on ……

Hunting’s not my thing but from everything I know, a hunter today could only dream of shooting 37 deer in an outing, let alone seeing “about 100″! And I suppose that’s just a demonstration of how out of control they were at the time.

I hope the hearings go well.

]]> By: Robb http://www.windy.gen.nz/index.php/archives/327/comment-page-1#comment-4484 Robb Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:37:51 +0000 http://www.windy.gen.nz/?p=327#comment-4484 Kia ora Mike, Much to absorb here. I must track down the Salmon book as it reads as being excellent and far ahead of its time. If you see photos of the Ruahines from the late 60's and early 70's in many places completely denuded of undergrowth there is room to appreciate the wobbly direction we seem to be headed at times in terms of conservation and providing use and access for all the various interest groups. Personally one of the biggest issues I am getting fired up about is helicopter access. Having had choppers swoop in and drop off people on top of me is mildly annoying, and their sense of entitlement a bit aggravating. At least one turbine project, the Puketoi, has been rejected by the Tararua council, though is being appealed, and the Contact proposal is being heard the first week of May. I am hoping to speak but will be working in Taranaki for the next month so I am scrambling a bit to fit it in. Cheers for the fine post and the book recco Mike, will definitely check it out. Rangimarie, Robb Kia ora Mike,
Much to absorb here. I must track down the Salmon book as it reads as being excellent and far ahead of its time. If you see photos of the Ruahines from the late 60′s and early 70′s in many places completely denuded of undergrowth there is room to appreciate the wobbly direction we seem to be headed at times in terms of conservation and providing use and access for all the various interest groups. Personally one of the biggest issues I am getting fired up about is helicopter access. Having had choppers swoop in and drop off people on top of me is mildly annoying, and their sense of entitlement a bit aggravating.
At least one turbine project, the Puketoi, has been rejected by the Tararua council, though is being appealed, and the Contact proposal is being heard the first week of May. I am hoping to speak but will be working in Taranaki for the next month so I am scrambling a bit to fit it in.
Cheers for the fine post and the book recco Mike, will definitely check it out.
Rangimarie,
Robb

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