My guests today are Kemi and Niko, the creative duo behind Kemi Niko & Co. Known for their handcrafted miniature huts, public art projects, and love for New Zealand’s backcountry, they blend art, design, and outdoor culture in a way that’s utterly unique.

We talk about how they began as broke artists in Wellington, their passion for real materials and hut heritage, the challenge of raising kids who tramp, and the surprising demand for tiny huts made from salvaged tin and timber.

It’s a story of creativity, persistence, and connection — to the land, to people, and to the simple joy of shelter.

Alistair Hall has been the editor and publisher of Wilderness Magazine for nearly two decades — and part of its story since the early 1990s. In this episode, he talks about his earliest outdoor memories, the “type two fun” that sparked his passion for tramping, and the muddy, magical challenge of the Southern Circuit on Rakiura.

He shares what it takes to produce a monthly magazine that’s chronicled New Zealand’s outdoor culture for more than 30 years, why Wilderness has endured while others folded, and what he learned from an ill-fated experiment with AI illustrations.

From school camps in Tongariro to the “worst tramp in New Zealand,” to launching the Walk1200 challenge — this is a fascinating look behind the scenes at a publication that’s inspired generations of trampers.

Victoria and Emilie Bruce have shared thousands of kilometres of trail — and hundreds of backcountry huts — between them. When Emilie was just seven years old, the pair set off to walk the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail, raising funds for conservation and mental health, and inspiring trampers young and old along the way.
 
In this episode, Victoria and Emilie talk about the adventures that shaped them — from snowstorms in Nelson Lakes to the solitude of the West Coast — and the lessons learned through blisters, laughter, and lollies. We hear how their journey turned into two books (Adventures with Emilie and Emilie Walks), and how they’ve kept exploring ever since — with more than 400 huts now ticked off their growing list.
 
It’s a story of courage, curiosity, and connection — a reminder that the best adventures are often the ones we share.

Andrew Buglass is the founder of Permolat and the central figure in The Hut Keepers, a new film celebrating the grassroots effort to preserve New Zealand’s hut network. In this episode, Andrew shares his deep connection with the mountains, the challenges of solitude, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to protecting backcountry huts. From youthful nights in the hills with only a transistor radio for company, to leading a movement that has kept our huts alive for future generations, Andrew reflects on what it means to belong in the backcountry.

Photo: Andrew by lake on Elliot tops, credit Paulette Birchfield

Jerry Van Lier is the creator and host of the Tararua Fever podcast, which dives deep into the rugged, rewarding, and sometimes notorious Tararua Ranges. From his very first tramp at the age of six to weathering gnarly conditions on southern crossings, Jerry’s stories capture both the challenges and the joys of these hills. We talk about tramping clubs and changing generations, hairy sections like the Waiohine Pinnacles, the huts he loves (and avoids), his philosophy on gear and safety, and what’s still on his bucket list. Jerry’s passion for the Tararuas shines through — as does the adrenaline that keeps pulling him back. 

Megan Dimozantos is president of the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC), and a passionate advocate for our huts, tracks, and wild places. We talk about her late introduction to the outdoors through rock climbing, her years of 24-hour solo mountain bike racing, and how volunteering with LandSAR drew her deep into New Zealand’s backcountry. Megan shares stories of epic 10 to 15 day trips, the lessons of running out of food in the wilderness, the special meaning behind moving a hut with an all-women crew, and the challenges tramping faces in an era of social media and climate change. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about advocacy, adventure, and what sustains our tramping culture. 

Rob Brown is one of the most influential voices in New Zealand tramping. Rob is the National Operations Manager of the Backcountry Trust, the organisation that supports volunteers to restore and maintain our huts and tracks. He is also a renowned photographer, writer, and long-time advocate for the outdoors.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rob shares stories of his early adventures with the Massey University Alpine Club, his long tramping partnership with Shaun Barnett, and the making of the best selling Classic Tramping. We talk about memorable trips into places like Ivory Lake and the Landsborough Wilderness, near-misses in wild country, and the evolving role of New Zealand’s hut network. Rob also reflects on what huts mean for our culture, how the Backcountry Trust works in partnership with DOC and local communities, and where the future of our backcountry huts might be heading.

If you’ve ever wondered about the stories behind New Zealand’s huts — and the people who keep them alive — this episode is for you.

Lou Sanson, former Director-General of the Department of Conservation, has spent a lifetime in New Zealand’s backcountry. From his childhood on the West Coast being taken tramping before he could walk, through teenage missions into wild valleys, to a career cutting tracks, leading DOC, and supporting the Backcountry Trust, Lou has lived and breathed the outdoors.

We talk about:

• His earliest memories of family adventures in the hills.
• The tramps and mentors that shaped his love of the backcountry.
• Turning a passion for the outdoors into a lifelong career.
• Memorable tramping trips — from Ivory Lake to Stewart Island to the Auckland Islands.
• The future of our hut and track network, and the balance between recreation, conservation, and tourism.
• His annual tradition of spending the longest day of the year on a mountain summit.
• It’s a conversation full of stories, reflection, and inspiration from one of the key figures behind New Zealand’s conservation and recreation legacy.