The Whare Kiore is the first impression 20,000 yearly visitors have of Matiu Somes Island. This is as travellers spend the first 20 minutes of their visit in here, checking their bags to help maintain the island’s pest-free status. As first impressions are crucial, Dulux felt it was time for a refresh.
As the Whare is not a historic building, Dulux had an opportunity to refresh the colour scheme during a full exterior repaint. This involved using Dulux’s exterior products, Weathershield® Gloss and Aquanamel® Gloss.
Weathershield Gloss was used for both the whares cladding and windows, using colours from Dulux’s Colours of New Zealand range: Lake Mangamahoe and Colorsteel® Gull Grey. The doors were repainted using Kamo Aquanamel Gloss, another from the Dulux Colours of New Zealand range.
Further, the funding provided from Dulux through the Dulux x DOC partnership covered a crucial ventilation upgrade. Due to the work being completed on this whare, the non-opening aluminium windows were replaced with double-glazed, opening windows to provide much-needed ventilation during biosecurity checks.
This transformation involved a range of volunteers and a variety of Dulux paints, resulting in a well-deserved upgrade. Whare Kiore will continue to serve the visitors of Matiu Somes Island, although now the whare will leave an everlasting first impression.
DOC manages a network of over 950 huts of all shapes and sizes. They provide unique places to stay, refuge from bad weather, or rest and recover when you're out exploring the outdoors. Find out more about bookable huts.
The Mimiwhangata Beach House is self-contained and sleeps 8, and is comfortable accommodation beside Northland's beautiful Okupe Beach.
The Rangipo Hut is a serviced 20-bunk hut in the Tūrangi/Taupō area. It is the highest on the Ruapehu circuit and faces east, with views over the Desert Road and Kaimanawa Ranges.
Sunrise Hut occupies a position right on the bush line in Buttercup Hollow in the sunny Hawke's Bay and was built in 1983.