Coal is still being used to heat 27 DOC huts across the country, despite a promise to phase it out two years ago. Five huts have transitioned over that time.

Coromandel’s Pinnacles Hut, Mount Aspiring’s Siberia Hut and Routeburn Falls Hut are among those still using coal. According to an Official Information Act request, 24.9 tonnes of coal had been supplied to heat those huts in 2022. During that time, 10.4 hours of helicopter time had been spent supplying coal to the 27 huts.

“Coal and firewood are flown to serviced huts for health and safety reasons,” said Darryl Lew, DOC’s director of planning and services. “This is particularly necessary in the winter months when trampers can turn up after dark in cold conditions and need ready access to dry fuel.

“We plan to move to firewood, or other low carbon alternatives, as  part of our transition to a low carbon conservation management operating model.”

DOC announced in 2021 that it would be phasing out the use of coal to heat huts. It estimated that total carbon emissions from using wood to heat huts would be approximately a quarter of those from using coal.