STOP the removal of Te Urewera Back Country Huts

Ngāi Tūhoe Iwi has already started demolishing Back Country Huts in Te Urewera and plans to finish the removal of the remaining Huts (50 odd) by Christmas 2022. The Department of Conservation (DOC), which owns all of the Huts in Te Urewera, has no problems with Ngāi Tūhoe Iwi's plans to "remove the western influences and their imprint within Te Urewera". This is currently happening out of the public eye and under the radar of the Nation's knowledge. The removal of these Back Country Huts will largely affect anyone who wishes to hunt, tramp, fish, and enjoy Te Urewera. It would be a massive loss for all New Zealanders who utilise and enjoy Te Urewera. Once the Back Country Huts are gone, they are gone forever. We need to convince DOC to put a stop to this and recognise that these Huts are historic and treasured by many people in Aotearoa. The money spent on the removal of these Huts (estimated $1m) should be invested into the preservation of the Te Urewera Back Country Huts for future generations to enjoy.