Potton & Burton

New Zealand Hut Heroes: Robbie Burton

Robbie Burton: a publisher committed to making a difference

by Sam Demas

(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)

As we rambled in the world of books and ideas, Robbie popped out of his seat every few minutes to grab a book from the shelves lining his office.  Few people can elaborate as many conversational threads by handing you a book they published on the topic!  While huts, tramping and natural history were our particular focus, I was fascinated to learn about Potton & Burton’s remarkable range of New Zealand non-fiction, childrens books, investigative reporting (six extremely popular and controversial works by Nicky Hager), graphic novels, calendars, as well as seminal books about huts and tramping.

To me the key facts about Potton & Burton are: 1. it is New Zealand’s only remaining independent publisher and widely recognized for a strong ethos of quality publishing, 2. this consistent quality grows out of a heartfelt commitment to cultivate a strong book culture in New Zealand, 3. their publishing list reflects Robbie’s tastes, instincts and willingness to take risks, and 4. the key role Robbie played in publishing Shelter from the Storm and in other unlikely publishing successes.  In a nutshell, the business is strong, publishing about 20 new titles a year, and they won the 2018 New Zealand’s “Publisher of the Year” award.  See the excerpts below for more information on Potton & Burton.  What intrigues me is how Robbie Burton, with no previous experience in publishing, came to be New Zealand’s premier publisher?  Turns out tramping played a role.

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Typology of the Baches of Taylors Mistake, NZ

Typology of the Baches of Taylors Mistake

by Janet Abbott, art historian and bach historian, Christchurch, NZ

The 72 baches of Taylors Mistake, Boulder Bay, Hobsons Bay and the cliffs and caves in between demonstrated a range of construction strategies. In the early 1900s when most of these baches were built there was no road access and the materials had to be found on site, boated in or carried, dragged and sledded over the hills. Nothing was wasted. Doors and windows were recycled from buildings in town. Baches that proved to be built too close to the sea and were washed away in a king tide storm were repurposed but the greatest treasure of all was dunnage. Over the hill from Taylors Mistake lay Lyttelton Harbour and until containers were used and biosecurity became an issue, ships would clear their decks of unwanted packing timber on leaving port. After a few days in the sea these exotic hardwoods washed up along the coast providing a ready supply of seasoned timber for building. Many of the earlier baches were made from this wood with the residue used for tree huts, dinghies and sledges.

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New Zealand baches

The Kiwi Bach – New Zealand vernacular architecture

The Kiwi Bach

Photos and text by Janet Abbott, art historian and bach historian, Christchurch, NZ

“Build them yourself on land you don’t own, out of things you’ve pinched from somewhere.”  

(Paul Thomson, The Bach 1985)

Huts, cabins and shacks are most commonly called baches in New Zealand. Pronounced ‘batch’ as in bachelor, these tiny holiday houses, often by the sea, are held close to the hearts of many Kiwis. There is nothing so fine as to travel over a winding, dusty road with the kids in the back, a stop to pick up fish and chips, and then arrive at your bach. The door opens to that particular aroma that belongs to the ancient furniture and musty magazines, and together with the sounds of sea, the birds, the wind in the trees, this transports you back to the carefree living of endless golden summers past. You can feel the sun on your skin, the sting of the sunburn and the ever-present sand in the sheets of your bed.  The excitement of catching a fish, climbing the cliffs, boating into sea caves and tobogganing down grassy slopes plays at the edge of memory. This is the kiwi bach.

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A rough history of bach legalities

A rough history of bach legalities

by Janet Abbott, art historian and bach historian

Local and central government authorities have attempted to regulate and/or remove the informally-built baches at Taylor’s Mistake since 1911.  They succeeded in removing all of the cave baches between Boulder Bay and Taylors Mistake in the clearances of 1979.  Now 45 out of the 72 baches remain and are currently facing a new round of Council public consultation and decisions.

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/consultations-and-submissions/haveyoursay/show/182

An article in the Press on the third of January 1911 entitled ‘The Cave Dwellers, Charms of Taylor’s Mistake, Leading the Simple Life’ sets the scene for these baches. It describes the pioneer cave dwellers Messrs Kennedy and Bickerton who had settled in caves twenty years ago [1891], followed by Mr Archbold fourteen years ago [1897] and states that there were now more than ‘thirty dwellings, no less than a dozen new ones having been started last year’.

Baches

Baches at Taylor’s Mistake, courtesy NZStuff

The article goes on to summarise the land ownership issues at the time which must have been seen as favourable enough for at least twelve families to invest in building huts.

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summit huts

Hut News October 2018

Hut News October 2018

Passing along a backlog of hut news items accumulated over the past months, mostly concerning US huts:

American Prairie Reserve Hut System Opens

This summer the American Prairie Reserve opened two yurts, the first in a planned 10 hut

American Prairie Reserve Yurts

John & Margaret Craighead Hut, near Judith River

system in a vast prairie reserve near along the Missouri River.  Guests reserve the entire yurt, which sleeps up to 9 people in 4 bunk rooms.  Fully equipped kitchens, compost toilets and common areas are provided. The huts are self-service, but a full-service option is available through an outfitter.  Congratulations to Mike Kautz and his colleagues in launching this ambitious effort!

 

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New Zealand Huts : Building blocks of the national hut system

New Zealand Huts Department of Conservation (DoC) System —

 Part A: Six Building blocks of the national hut system

(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)

Introduction

This is the first in a series of posts (Parts A – E) providing an overview of how the NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) operates New Zealand’s collectively owned system of 962 huts.  The series includes:

  • Part A: Six Building Blocks of the DoC Hut System
  • Part B: How Many and What Kinds?  A Tally and Taxonomy
  • Part C: Operational Costs and Revenues
  • Part D: Notes on Ten Selected Operations
  • Part E: Great Walks Huts

Part A looks at what I am calling ‘Six Building Blocks, i.e. six of the key DoC documents that laid the foundations for creating a cohesive national hut system for NZ, the world’s largest. DoC’s policies and operational methods are well documented online.  The intent of this summary is to provide the reader a broad overview and links and pointers to more in-depth information.

First, a quick look at the NZ Department of Conservation as a whole.

Broad Overview of DoC

New Zealand Huts

NZ Department of Conservation Logo

DoC is the NZ government agency which operates the largest hut system in the world.  The agency was established under the Conservation Act 1987, which consolidated parts of several agencies, including the huts, tracks and other infrastructure for outdoor recreation, conservation and scientific work.   Prior to 1987 the organization of NZ land management agencies was based on those in the U.S., i.e. separate agencies for various types of federal lands.  The 1987 Conservation Act moved to consolidate many functions in one agency with a clear conservation mandate driving all land management policies and programs, and in the hope of better coordination among formerly distinct agencies with overlapping missions.  See Historical Perspectives for historical context on the development of DoC.

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Hut Principles: New Zealand Department of Conservation

This is quoted from the  NZ DoC document (n.d.) and linked to a broader piece LINK HERE:

NZ Department of Conservation: HUT PRINCIPLES

SELECTING A SUSTAINABLE CORE NETWORK OF HUTS

 New Zealanders have enjoyed a long history of access to a network of huts located at more than 1000 sites throughout the country’s conservation areas.  The majority of these facilities provide basic overnight shelter although some buildings can accommodate up to 60 people a night at popular destinations.  Between them these facilities are a significant contribution to the character of the backcountry, with many huts seen as important in their own right.  Indeed, local communities through the efforts of tramping and hunting clubs have provided many huts now available to the public.

  • Huts provide basic overnight shelter in conservation areas, complementing tent camping.
  • Huts between them create a range of opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation activities including tramping, hunting, fishing and climbing.
  • Huts may be used for a weekend away, an escape during the week, or to support a multi-day trip.
  • In order to ensure that the right mix of huts is retained into the future to support a range of recreation opportunities, the following Principles and guidance will be used to make proposals on huts. The proposals arising from the use of these principles will not directly lead to management action, but will form the basis of discussion through the public consultation process. Over time the total number and location of huts may be changed within a location and the opportunities still retained.
  • These Principles apply to most huts including Great Walk huts but do not apply to locked booked accommodation or shelters.

HUT PRINCIPLES

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Hut Economics: what does it cost to operate the NZ DoC Hut System?

New Zealand Huts Department of Conservation, Part D:

Hut Economics: what does it cost to operate the NZ DoC Hut System?

by Sam Demas

(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)

Determining hut economics is always the hardest part of studying huts.  Quite often I get little or no useful information from the operators, particularly from private operations.  With a government-operated hut system this has proved a bit easier in the case of New Zealand, though the data I have is an approximation based on some cost modeling that DoC has done over the years.

The bottom line:

  • the estimated annual cost to operate DoC huts is about $12,000,000,
  • DoC takes in about $7,500,000 per year in hut-related revenues, and
  • that leaves about $4,500,000 in net annual expense from the DoC budget.

These figures are only estimates; see caveats and details below.  All amounts are quoted in NZ Dollars.   Note: these estimates only do not account for the following categories of expense:

  • expenses for central services such as the web site and booking system, hut brochures, and Visitor Centers,
  • situations where clubs get a share of the hut revenues,
  • revenue from concessions, which are very difficult to break out specifically for use of huts.

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challenges and opportunities

New Zealand Great Walks: tourism and policies

New Zealand Huts Department of Conservation, Part D:

New Zealand Great Walks: tourism and policies

by Sam Demas

(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)

The nine New Zealand Great Walks, with a total of 33 huts among them, are a lightning rod for the national discussion about changing conceptions and practices of human relationship with the wild.  Rightly or wrongly, the Great Walks are frequently featured in the discourse when concerns are voiced about DoC’s management of huts generally, its priorities, and where New Zealand is going with its hut system.

Is the nation pandering to tourism at the expense of traditional Kiwi recreational values and birthrights?  Are business interests over-riding conservation of and domestic rights of access to the conservation estate?  Is DoC enforcing a level of standardization and commercialization that takes diminishes the hut experience and the magic of traditional tramping?  How can the government ensure fair and equitable pricing and access policies for Kiwi trampers while dealing with the pressures of mass tourism?  These are controversial matters, as much in the realm of opinion as of fact.  I don’t have firm opinions or all the facts. See User perceptions of Great Walks Huts and Serviced Huts for a summary of user perceptions, which goes deeper into the controversies engendered by these higher amenity huts.

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cross cultural comparisons

New Zealand Great Walks: user perceptions

New Zealand Huts Department of Conservation, Part D:

Great Walks user perceptions

in Great Walks Huts and Serviced Huts

by Sam Demas

(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)

In operating the world’s largest hut system, DoC caters for trampers with vastly different experience and skill levels, from different parts of New Zealand society and from all over the world.  DoC is continually trying to balance these disparate needs, abilities, and preferences through an evolving suite of “visitor management” methods.  There appears to be widespread public recognition that DoC is continually walking a very difficult tightrope.

While Kiwis recognize that it is not possible to please everyone, DoC has learned that it can count on experienced local trampers to let them know when their visitor management methods are perceived as undermining traditional tramping.  So DoC is well aware of the perceptions summarized below, and doubtless much more.

See related post New Zealand Great Walks: tourism and policies for broader context for these summary perceptions and for discussion of policies designed to address them.

Sources of user perceptions and notes on methodology

There are currently 33 Great Walks Huts and 95 Serviced Huts in the DoC system.  This combined total of 128 huts constitutes 13.3% of total DoC huts (963). The user perceptions summarized below are from these two hut categories.  While a small percentage of the whole system, these two categories attract the most intensive use and controversy.

This summary of user perceptions is derived from two sources: 1. from discussions that I gathered in three months of interviews and travels in NZ, and 2. from the results of an academic survey reported in the article “Tramper Perspectives on New Zealand’s Great Walks in a time of transition” (in New Zealand Geographer, 2017, p. 1-15, by Joe Fagan and Robin Kearns). [Alas, the link to this article will only get you the full text if you have access through a library with a digital subscription or if you wish to pay.  Otherwise you can get a paper copy at your local library or request it on interlibrary loan.]

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