Experienced builders (from left) Doug Kemp, John Ball and John Patrick donated labour to do heritage work on the Auckland Islands.
On March 26, HMNZS Wellington will carry more than 23 passengers to the Auckland Islands, including DOC staff who to are leading the work, volunteer builders, heritage experts, scientists, a Southland Conservation Board member and members of Ngai Tahu.
A core goal is restoration of the World War II coastwatchers' base at Ranui Cove, part of a unique collaboration between the Department of Conservation and volunteers fascinated by the Auckland Islands.
Between the late 1800s and the early 20th Century, ahead of rounding Cape Horn, sailing ships headed from Sydney to Britain had to dip down into the roaring forties. Towering seas swept many of these ships onto the rocks surrounding the poorly-charted island group.
As a boy, John devoured stories written by survivors - sailors and passengers, cast away for months, who usually lived on sealmeat and seabirds. They built boats using materials to hand and used initiative to survive till rescue came.
Famous wrecks included those of the Grafton, Invercauld, General Grant, Derry Castle, Anjou and Dundonald . . .
In 1866, the gold-laden General Grant left Melbourne and headed for London via Cape Horn. She disappeared into a giant cave on the west coast of Auckland Island.
The stories kindled a determination in John to get himself to the islands by hook or by crook, but despite becoming an accomplished blue water sailor an opportunity never came up.
Plenty of adventure
As he turned 60 years, John realised he'd better hurry-up and make his dream happen - but there was a problem.
"You don't simply jump on a yacht and rock-up to the Auckland Islands. The unique flora and fauna has been so damaged by humans - including sealers, whalers and misguided attempts to farm in the fragile environment, that DOC protects it fiercely.
"Landing is are forbidden, lest people introduce weeds or pests. Eco-tourist cruises, which cocoon their passengers in luxury go there, but I just didn't want to go as a tourist."
The solution was to do something useful, and John thought his building skills could provide the answer. He discovered infrastructure, including the historic coastwatchers base at Ranui Cove, remnants of a colonial settlement at Hardwicke, so-called "finger posts" put up to guide castaways to supply depots, and other buildings - all required maintenance.
Dundonald survivors with a coracle they used to reach a supply depot. The craft was originally covered with canvas.
"I put together a building programme, suggesting I and fellow builders (all experienced sailors) would work for free and self-fund our expedition. DOC checked us out thoroughly, but you could say we made them an offer they couldn't refuse."
The two-week building programme took John and several comrades to the Auckland Islands in 2012, where they completed maintenance at heritage sites and had a good look around.
They had their fill of adventure. While hiking through the rata forest which covers most of the islands, they were caught in a storm, with winds over 100 km/h.
The storm was so severe that it swept their support-yacht far out to sea.
They experienced a likely tsunami event, which suddenly drained the cove where their boat was landing, then sent a wall of water gushing back in. Such events are an occupational hazard in the Sub Antarctic.
"As for the maintenance schedule - we exceeded expectations, we put in long hours, doing everything required and then some."
An offer to return and complete additional maintenance followed, but fearing that - now aged 65 - he was slowing down too much, John passed the leadership baton to his brother in law, Jon Patrick.
Jon, another accomplished builder and blue water sailor, will lead the group of builders who travel later this month, and work over Easter.
They will be on the islands for about two weeks, assisted by an experienced DOC officer and an expert from Heritage New Zealand.
But though he won't be building this time around, John may get one more taste of the Auckland Islands.
"If possible, I'll be on the yacht going down to pick them up. Opportunities to visit this part of the world are few and far between. If you get one - you grab it."
