Shelter From the Storm: The Story of New Zealand's Backcountry Huts (Revised Edition)

A fully revised edition of the landmark book that tells the story of our backcountry huts. One of the singular features of the New Zealand outdoors is the remarkable network of backcountry huts, and those who venture into our wild places often develop a strong attachment to these humble structures. Shelter from the Storm, is a landmark publication, the first wide-ranging history of our hut network, which is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. The authors, Shaun Barnett, Rob Brown and Geoff Spearpoint, provide an overview of who built our huts, including farmers, miners, tramping and mountaineering clubs, the Tourism Department, the Department of Internal Affairs, National Park Boards, Lands and Survey, the New Zealand Forest Service and DOC, and then profile a wide range of individual huts. When first published in 2012 this book went into two reprints, and helped change the conversation around backcountry huts. In the 14 years since first published there has been a sea-change in both official and publication recognition of the value of our hut network, and there is now widespread volunteer involvement in the upkeep of these huts. This fully revised edition recognizes this, with updated information and photographs on many existing huts, and a new conclusion that provides an overview of the changes over the last decade. This is an important book, meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated with an extensive range of historic and contemporary photographs. Its significance and far-reaching appeal will deeply resonate with many New Zealanders.

Published December 2024