Kete Horowhenua

New hut dropped in for trampers - 1981

Many hours of planning and preparation came to a suc¬cessful conclusion last weekend when members of the Levin Waiopehu Tramping Club rebuilt the Waiopehu hut in the ranges behind Levin.

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On Friday, January 16, several trips were made by helicopter ferrying the tonne of materials needed for the job and work began in the afternoon with a full workforce of 17, says the clubs chief guide, Mr Ernie Maluschnig.

"On Saturday the site was full of enthusiastic amateur carpenters, drainlayers, painters, plumbers and appren¬tices.

"After three days of working in some of the hottest weather this summer, the hut took on a new, inviting look.

"The Waiopehu hut now has a wooden floor, new fireplace and chimney,relined bunks, new water supply and a fresh coat of paint all over."

He said a new long-drop toilet adds one of the comforts of home.

This week-end another working party will tidy up and put the final touches to the hut which now provides a pleasant place for the many trampers who use it and for those who make the not very difficult four hour walk to it from the foothills.

"We hope many people will get pleasure from using the hut and keep it in good condition and we do thank all those who have supported the work par¬ties and business firms in supplying materials," said Mr Maluschnig.

The original Waiopehu hut was built in 1928, less than a year after the club was formed.

Tragedy struck on Sunday. February 2, 1936, when a hurricane swept through the area and caused the death of one member. Mr Ralph Wood , whose grave still remains between the snowgrassed tops of Mount Waiopehu and Twin Peaks.

The intense winds devastated the lower Tararuas and all the huts and tracks that club members had provided were wiped out.,

The Waiopehu hut was lifted from its piles and became a tangled mass of wreckage 300 feet down a bank.

REBUILT
The hut was rebuilt after the war, and opened on May 17, 1947 and in 1971 a new roof was fitted, the iron being carried by hand to the site.

At the beginning of last year it was decided that the state of the hut was a disgrace and it was decided to rebuild it.

First, the track was opened up to make it one of the most pleasant in the area and Mr Maluschnig recalls that without the dedication of Mr Ossie Schaef and Mr Jim Malcolm, this would not have been possible.

PLANNING
We then spent hours on planning the hut and the materials needed and we especially thank Felvins, and House of York, Levin, for their valuable assistance and donations, says Mr Maluschnig who adds that the club welcomes people to join them on its trips and seeks new members who can contact him at Levin 89-739.