Kemi & Niko - Mini Hut Kiwi Flat Hut

Kiwi Flat Hut
Waitaha Valley, West Coast

The first hut at the base of the mighty Waitaha Valley, the hut baggers dream and home to coveted Ivory Lake Hut.
It was built in the 1960’s and was given this colourful exterior by local Bruce in the late 70s. He went against orders to paint it beige and mixed up this shade of teal using leftover paint from Ivory Lake Hut, which was blue at the time.
The hut is a standard SF70 six-bunk design and still has its original open fire.

We decided to make this hut after reading about it in the FMC Backcountry magazine. Apparently Westpower used the hut book entries to justify ‘low use’ of the valley in their hydro application, willfully disregarding the fact plenty of trampers do not always sign hut books. A stark reminder we should always sign the hut book, even if just passing through.

Our Mini Hut version is made from salvaged timber and tin cans. Painted in its 1978 colour scheme of teal and rescue orange.