Photo above of JT (John Taylor) and Max Polglaze working on restoration of Riordans Hut
New Zealand Hut Heroes: John Taylor, master of hut restoration
by Sam Demas
[Photos Courtesy DoC Takkaka, Neil Murray & Tony Hitchcock]
(Note: this is part of the larger work New Zealand Huts: Notes towards a Country Study)
Antarctica, one place John Taylor works on hut restoration, is the only continent on earth where human’s first dwellings still stand. Less than 12 hours after he returned from work on an ongoing project in Antarctica (this was the only time we could find to get together, and he insisted we do it!), JT related this remarkable fact over breakfast on a Saturday morning. Before we started talking about him, he regaled me with stories of huts in Antarctica, where he is currently helping establish a base camp for hut restoration work, and gave me a marvelous booklet Antarctic Historic Huts of the Ross Sea Region (Antarctic Heritage Trust, n.d.). I knew immediately that his would be a fun and informative conversation.
JT on the job restoring Riordans Hut
JT is really excited about his work in multiple arenas. He is a talented, energetic, dedicated and wide-ranging public servant; in my humble opinion, an exemplary DoC ranger. This man is fascinated by history, full of inspiration and a natural teacher. Its not surprising that through his energetic and visionary work in the Golden Bay DoC he has quietly led by example — just doing it — in restoring historic huts. He is a key link in the transmission of the skills and techniques of hut restoration from one generation to the next.