The evening is a celebration of NZ's unique backcountry huts - the shelters themselves and the culture that has grown up around them.

The film Hut Keepers premiered at the Wanaka Mountain Film Festival in 2025 and is the centrepiece of the evening. This beautifully shot, evocative film tracks the birth of a movement that was to become the Backcountry Trust and which today plays a massive role in preserving our backcountry huts and track network. For any lover of the outdoors who missed seeing this at last year's film festival it is a must watch.

Either side of the one-hour long screening there will be:

an introduction by Mal Law, advocate for the Backcountry Trust who has had a 40-year long love affair with NZ mountain huts and an appreciation for their uniqueness on the world stage.
a Q&A session re. the work of the Backcountry Trust and the chance to share a few hut yarns of your own.

Doors open at 6pm to give you a chance to mix and mingle before the 6.30pm start.

All proceeds go to the Backcountry Trust to support their work preserving backcountry huts and tracks.

Contact the host of Hut Keepers film evening