A winning combination of business, new technology and conservation means trampers at Dumpling Hut on the Milford Track will soon enjoy hot water as well as drier, warmer, well lit evenings on the finest walk in the world. On Friday the Minister of Conservation, the Hon Kate Wilkinson, will commission the new Solar Rib roof supplied and installed by Calder Stewart Industries Ltd.

Last year Calder Stewart Industries approached the Department of Conservation (DOC) to trial the new Solar Rib roofing on backcountry huts. The Solar Rib technology allows for solar panels to be integrated within the roofing material itself, supplying power without requiring bulky panels above the roof line.

"The Solar Rib roofing is a good fit with the Department's desire to work with business and to move toward more sustainable recreation facilities, so we were happy to find a hut for Calder Stewart to trial the product" said Reg Kemper, DOC Area Manager in Te Anau. "They've certainly taken up the challenge testing their product for use on huts at Dumpling Hut with its extreme rainfall and winter snow and frosts."

Before the roofing could be installed at Dumpling Hut a panel was placed at Mintaro Hut to test whether it could withstand the attention of Kea, New Zealand's mountain parrots. Mr Kemper said that although Kea had been responsible for short circuiting and destroying a number of power supplies, Calder Stewart's clever design work appeared to have foiled the birds.

"The Kea couldn't find anything to get their beaks into on the roof panel, so it got the green light for installation" said Mr Kemper.

Tansley Electrical also contributed to the project, designing and supplying a suitable electrical system for the hut. Staff from Calder Stewart, Tansley Electrical and the Department of Conservation installed the roof and system earlier this week.