ROSA WOODS/STUFF
Kelli Gerritsen, 23, is about to finish her second summer in the bush as a hut warden in the Ōrongorongo Valley in the Wellington region.
When the rata in the Ōrongorongo Valley drop their flowers, the ground becomes a red carpet. It is one of the many serendipities of the Remutaka Forest Park, and Department of Conservation (DOC) hut wardens are among those who know them best. Responsible for maintaining many of the DOC huts around the country, wardens spend their work hours, and often their downtime too, surrounded by nature. Kelli Gerritsen, 23, has just finished her second summer living in the Remutakas. She’s about to start her final year of a degree in environmental management at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill.