Searching for Pohokura hut

Do you know how to get to Pohokura hut? Hamiora Gibson is calling on the public’s help to rediscover one of his grandfather’s favourite log bivvy huts – or at least what might remain of it. This photograph from one of his grandad Graham Vette’s old albums shows his mates Bob Cresswell (left) and George Paton outside the hut, in 1958.

Looking through my grandfather’s albums you can almost smell the oiled wood, the wet dogs and spent black powder.

“The subtle scratch of wool, the tickle of a pheasant feather in a coat pocket, the softness of an English Pointer’s ear as it nuzzles in for a pat.

“These are the smells and memories of my Poppa,” bushman Hamiora Gibson aka Sam the Trap Man writes in a social media post.

“Cigarette smoke, fast cars and a satisfied smile as each day spent roaming the hills was a good day no matter if we were successful or not.”

Mr Gibson’s grandad — Graham Kirk Vette — and his mates grew up roaming the hills and knew them like the back of their hands, Mr Gibson says.

Now he’s hoping to rediscover one of his grandfather’s favourite remote bush huts and is calling on some local knowledge to help.

Rumoured to be somewhere between the Napier to Taupo Road and Lake Waikaremoana, Pohokura hut was — in its prime —a “stunning log bivvy”, Mr Gibson says.

The Pohokura hut no longer seems to exist on maps but Mr Gibson recalls his grandad sharing stories about it and has seen photographs of it in his grandad’s old albums.

One picture shows Mr Vette’s mates Bob Cresswell and George Paton outside the hut in 1958.

Mr Gibson hopes he can one day find the hut, or at least the remnants of it, “to walk the footsteps of my grandfather and to see the same views”.

He would love to hear from anyone who can help.

Contact him via his Sam the Trap Man Facebook page.