The Backcountry Trust has been granted $1million over two years via DOC’s Community Conservation Partnership Fund. The amount granted is less than the $1.6 million the trust applied for.

For the past three years, DOC has provided the trust with $450,000 annually for volunteer projects and since 2014, the trust has funded the restoration of more than 250 huts and 1000km of walking and mountain bike tracks.

Backcountry Trust national operations manager Rob Brown said without the new funding the trust would not survive.

“We are doing everything we can at the moment, but cornerstone support of a monetary kind is critical.

“We are the most cost-effective backcountry maintenance option out there, with some very talented and committed people delivering the results, which also contributes to a bundle of other biodiversity, community and heritage outcomes for New Zealand,” said Brown.

Federated Mountain Clubs released a statement supporting the funding but noted ‘the grant will allow BCT to only survive, rather than thrive’.