Improvements in National Park

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 35, 11 February 1986, Page 3

Improvements in National Park

Trampers will be warmer and able to cook more efficiently in Blyth and Mangaeheuheu Huts on the southwestern side of Mt Ruapehu with the recent installation of new stoves. The old stoves, which park ranger, Brian Norton, jokingly said looked as if they had been in the huts for 50 years, have been replaced by 'Kent Forester' stoves. Mr Norton said the new stoves should bur'n wood more efficiently which will help the park board as firewood has to be flown to the huts. The stoves were modified before being installed to make them foolproof.

Blyth Hut also has a new 3000 litre polythene water tank after the previous two 500 litre galvanised, corrugated iron tanks became too old to maintain. In other work a spraying programme is underway to control noxious weeds such as broom, lupens, blackberry and ragwort. For the first summer in four years there are no seasonal employees helping out in the park, and as a result the spraying programme is behind schedule. Within the next two weeks the Waitonga Falls track will be upgraded using a helicopter and ground party and later this summer more 'duck boards' will be laid near Lake Surprise.