Hippie houses' fate under discussion

EX-HIPPIES and Conservation Department staff are grappling with the fate of the funky backblocks buildings that are all that remains of New Zealand's longest-lasting ohu.
The Ahu Ahu Ohu started in 1975 on land 4km and a river crossing away from the Whanganui River Rd at Atene, 40km from Wanganui.
The ohu's land, part of the 1509ha Ahu Ahu Conservation Area, returned to the control of the Conservation Department in 1999, after most community members had deserted the small settlement and stopped paying the lease. They left behind about five family dwellings and a community building, which became the responsibility of the department (DoC).
In 2003 a new company, Ahu Ahu Ohu 2003 Ltd, was formed. Four of its eight shareholders were original ohu residents, shareholder and spokesperson Fred Frederikse said.
The group wants a concession to use some of the land ? that near the buildings. It also wants to use some of the buildings ? possibly only two that have existing building permits.
Mr Frederikse said members wanted to keep a caretaker on site and make the place available to outdoor recreation, tourism, education and conservation groups on a non-profit basis.
The group had put together a draft 10-year business plan, which was with DoC for comment.
DoC Whanganui area manager Nic Peet said the department's first concern was for the safety of anyone using the buildings. If there was a problem, DoC would be liable.
Before anyone could spend the night in them, the buildings would have to meet DoC standards for habitation.
These would be similar to those for tramping huts.
Trampers were up in arms last year after two huts that did not meet standards were removed from the Waitotara Forest.
Brian Campbell has been living a hermit-like existence at the former community for at least two years and acting as caretaker.
Mr Frederikse said he had agreed to move into a tent, despite the approach of winter, because the buildings had not been deemed habitable.
They were inspected by DoC and Wanganui District Council staff on Wednesday.
A report on them would be available in about two weeks, and the department would then have to decide what approach to take.
Mr Frederikse said, and Dr Peet acknowledged, that the buildings had historic value.
The Historic Places Trust had been notified about them. "It's the best example of a rural commune in the conservancy, and it has significant historic importance as the last remaining (Norman) Kirk/(Matiu) Rata ohu," Mr Frederikse said.
Despite that, Dr Peet said, regulations were regulations. "There's a legal standard that has to be met."
Some of the buildings could be more worthy of preservation than others, he said.
Whether they were preserved was likely to depend partly on how much it would cost.
"Without destroying the integrity of the site, some buildings might merit more put into them than others."
Parts of the conservation land were being grazed by stock belonging to an Atene family.
Dr Peet said this would also have to be addressed, but it was not as urgent as the building situation.