A wrap of the biggest stories and best writing about the outdoors from New Zealand and around the world.

The High Court has ordered that hut removals in Te Urewera must stop immediately.

Te Uru Taumatua – Tūhoe’s management arm of Te Urewera – had begun to take out 48 huts it says are derelict, with plans to replace them with bespoke constructions.

But there’s been plenty of opposition to the plans, and Wharenui Clyde, who is Tūhoe, went to the High Court to get it stopped.

He says the heritage of the huts hadn’t been considered, the plans hindered access to the region, and people hadn’t been consulted.

Justice Woolford said a hearing needed to take place and, in the meantime, the hut removals must stop. RNZ were told that 29 huts had already been removed. Read more here. 

New 24km walkway nearly there

Great news for those seeking adventure in Hawke’s Bay. Te Aratia Walkway – a 24km walking and cycling track – is close to completion. It’ll head around the beautiful Mahia Peninsula (just over an hour south of Gisborne).

Storm damage and funding issues have delayed its completion, but the passionate volunteers at Whangawehi Catchment Management Group have stuck with it.

“We’re a little bit behind but we’ll make it work. We’ve repaired it twice now. But at least there’s a base to build on,” said the group’s Nic Caviale-Delzescaux.

The project started a decade ago as a river restoration project, and more than 250,000 native trees have been planted. But a few years ago it was decided that the wider community should be able to enjoy it.

An opening ceremony is due to take place on 8th December. Read more at New Zealand Herald. 

Kiwi comeback in Wellington

Exciting times, as you might be able to hear (and perhaps even see) New Zealand’s national bird in the wild in the capital for the first time in generations.

Thirteen North Island brown kiwi are being released as part of the Capital Kiwi Project – the biggest community-owned stoat trap network in the country.

The project has been so successful at removing predators that DOC have allowed 250 kiwi to be released over the next six years.

The first 13 birds will be released at Shepards Gully on Terawhiti Station, west of the city. Read more at Newstalk ZB. 

Tramper rescued after six days without food

A 55-year-old tramper was mightily relieved to see rescuers arrive at the remote West Coast hut he was stranded in, after being without food for almost a week.

Although clearly without a rescue beacon, the injured tramper had recorded where he’d been on his trip, which made him far easier to find, once he was alerted missing.

Teams from the Hokitika, Westport and Reefton LandSAR groups, and Precision Helicopters Hokitika, took part in the operation up the Whitcombe Valley.

The man had begun hallucinating, but is now in hospital and expected to make a full recovery. Read the full story at RNZ. 

From Cockermouth to Lickey End (via Andrew’s Nob, Nanny’s Breast and Ten Butts Crescent)

There are many reasons to undertake a long distance walk. But with 39-year-old James Forrest living in the town of Cockermouth, and his brother living in Lickey End, it seemed only right that he should walk from one to the other, adding as many rude names to the route as possible.

The 526km journey took him from Cumbria in the north-west of England to Worcestershire in the West Midlands and included the likes of Bell End and a sculpture called Gloryhole.

“I was wandering around Bilston trying to find this sculpture,” he told the Mirror. “I didn’t want to say to someone, “excuse me, do you know where the Gloryhole is?”.”

As well as giving people (and himself) a giggle with the challenge, he also did the walk to raise money for testicular cancer charity Baggy Trousers UK. Read more here.