August 2012 Issue - Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ

FMC Book NewsThree exciting new titleswill appear later thisyear. Te Papa Presswill publish Buller’sBirds of New Zealand,The complete workof JG Keulemans, byGeoff Norman. Thisis a complete, allnewedition of theclassic nineteenthcentury ornithological paintings of John GerrardKeulemans for Walter Buller’s A History of theBirds in New Zealand. As well as featuringfresh reproductions of the original watercolourpaintings, the book also tells the story of thisinternationally significant bird artist and his work.Geoff Norman is a Wellington tramper, designerand bird enthusiast.Shelter from the Storm, The Story ofNew Zealand’s Backcountry Huts details theremarkable history of ourhuts and profiles over90 huts in individualchapters. Written byShaun Barnett, RobBrown and GeoffSpearpoint, the 365-page hardback bookwill be published inOctober by CraigPotton Publishing. In several essays,covering farm, mining, deer-culling, trampingclub, science, memorial, DOC, Lands andSurvey, tourism and climbing huts, the authorsexplain the development of our backcountryhut network, one of the most extensive anddiverse in the world. The FMC Mountain andForest Trust supported publication of this bookwith a substantial $5,000 grant to offset the highproduction costs.Craig Potton Publishing has also producedanother fascinating book, due for release inAugust: Stag Spooner, Wild Man from the Bushby Chris Maclean. Stag (Neville) Spooner (1917-THE STORY OF NEW ZEALAND’S BACKCOUNTRY HUTSSHELTER FROM THE STORMBARNETTBROWNBuller’s BirdsOFNew ZealandTHE COMPLETE WORK OFJG KEULEMANSSHELTER FROM THE STORMTHE STORY OF NEW ZEALAND’S BACKCOUNTRY HUTS1946) was a governmentdeer culler in 1939 and1940, initially in theTararuas, and thenon the South Island’sWest Coast. While hissuccessful career as aculler was cut shortby the Second WorldWar, he did leavebehind a remarkable legacyfrom this period, an illustrated diary of hisexperiences that he entitled Those Wild Menfrom the Bush. The diary, which forms theheart of this book, is a fascinating chronicle ofthe life of a professional hunter, who somewhatunusually, was also an artist. In an extensivebiographical essay, Chris Maclean detailsSpooner’s life, not only as a hunter and artist,but also as an ambulance officer during the war.Maclean, a tramper, writer and historian, is wellknown for his landmark books Tararua, Kapitiand John Pascoe.Reviews of all three books, withextracts, will appear in the November2012 FMC Bulletin.Wairarapa Hut and TrackNews (from DOC Masterton)After a trial booking system at PowellHut last summer, DOC has decided toimplement a booking system for bothPowell and Jumbo Huts in TararuaForest Park for the 2012–2013 summer.Those wishing to stay at either hut between 1October 2012 and 30 April 2013 must bookwell in advance through the DOC website(www.doc.govt.nz). Bookings open on 1 August2012. Wardens will operate at both huts oversummer.Gas cooking facilities at Tutuwai, TotaraFlats and Mitre Flats huts will be permanentlyremoved in August 2012 to reduce costs. DOCwill continue to supply firewood to these threehuts.18FMC Bulletin • August 2012