North Canterbury District
James.
32 River Road
Rangiora 7400
fyi-request-30485-
[email address]
[email address]
Ref: OIAD-5054
17 April 2025
Tēnā koe James
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation, received on 24 March 2025, in
which you asked:
“I would like to make a request for the architectural drawings for French Ridge Hut (I can
see this was asked for previously but was not included in the document set provided from
DOC) in full. If possible, any information surrounding Waimakariri Falls Hut, regarding
maintenance or construction would be greatly appreciated.”
On 26 March 2025, you clarified that part of your request relating to Waimakariri Falls Hut to
include:
“The information I would love to acquire would be about the disputes in maintenance
responsibility and ownership (of Waimakariri Falls Hut)
. Also, any information regarding the
standard the renovations made in 2005 to the hut by DOC in response to agreed neglect.”
We have considered your request under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the OIA).
Your questions and our responses are listed below:
1.
“..request for the architectural drawings for French Ridge Hut (I can see this was asked for
previously but was not included in the document set provided from DOC) in full.”
The Department has previously released Item 1 (listed in the
attached Schedule), being a
single page of drawings for the French Ridge Hut that it holds. The drawings are released in
full, with no redactions applied.
French Ridge Hut in Mt Aspiring National Park is owned and managed by the New Zealand
Alpine Club (NZAC). You are best to contact them directly at
[email address]
to see if they hold further information about the hut.
2.
“..any information surrounding Waimakariri Falls Hut, regarding maintenance or
construction would be greatly appreciated.”
AND
“.. information … about the disputes in maintenance responsibility and ownership. Also,
any information regarding the standard the renovations made in 2005 to the hut by DOC
in response to agreed neglect.”
We are not aware of any dispute concerning the ownership of Waimakariri Falls Hut, or the
maintenance responsibility connected to it.
The Waimakariri Falls Hut is one of two huts owned and managed by the Canterbury
Mountaineering Club (CMC) in the Arthur’s Pass National Park, as public use huts. (The other
hut is Barker Hut.)
The Waimakariri Falls Hut was gifted to the CMC as part of the Arthur’s Pass National Park’s
75th anniversary in 2004. This act recognised the CMC’s desire to continue its community
contribution within this Park and is reflected in the Arthur’s Pass National Park Management
Plan at 6.3.3.
Prior to this hut being gifted to the CMC, work was completed on it, including:
• replacement of some of the subfloor framing and flooring
• removal and replacement of rotten wall framing and lining
• installation of double-glazed windows
• adding insulation to the walls
• installing passive ventilation
• rebuilding the bunks and supplying new mattresses
• repairing and weather sealing the front door.
We
attach Item 2, a copy of a report undertaken in 2000 which highlighted the work required to
be done. This document has had business information redacted, under Section 9.2(b) of the
Of icial Information Act. Also released is Item 3, photos taken in 2004 following the work.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and attached document may be
published on the Department’s website.
If you would like to discuss this response with us, please contact Gavin Collis, Senior Ranger
Visitor and Heritage, North Canterbury District, by email t
o [email address] .
Nāku noa, nā
Jo Macpherson
Director Regional Operations, Eastern South Island
Department of Conservation |
Te Papa Atawhai
2
Schedule:
Item Date
1
French Ridge Hut plan, December 1998
Released in full
2
Baseline Inspection Report March 2000
Redacted under
Section 9.2(b)
3
Images taken in 2004 following maintenance work
Released in full
3
