Stan Lowe Obituary

Love our Huts and Tracks

Stan Lowe was a life member and past President from the BOP Branch, Stan, passed away back on the 30th August 2024.

Remembering Stan Lowe – a thoroughly, decent bloke.

Stan grew up at Pyes Pa, being one in a family of nine boys.

He first joined the NZDA – BOP branch back in the 1960’s sometime during his teenage years. By this time, he was a regular hunter in the Kaimais, never lacking a hunting buddy having had so many brothers.

Stan married Arendina in 1974 and they soon had three sons of their own: Phillip, Nigel and Andy.

Over the 60 plus years of membership both Stan and Arendina have supported the club tirelessly and in numerous ways. In times past the club’s social event of the year was the Annual Dinner and Awards Night. This took a lot of organization and Stan and Arendina were often involved.

Stan held the Presidency for some 4-5 years and he was a committee member for many years, only resigning a year or two back.

He gained a Life Membership about 15 years ago.

Over the years his name appeared on many club trophies, but it was the trophy for the Roaring Competition where it appears the most.

Unbeknown to most of today’s members, the NZDA-BOP branch was at serious risk of folding more than 30 years ago. This was due to low membership, difficulty getting people to be on the committee and the constant need to fund raise. Stan, Keith and one or two others were instrumental in keeping the club alive. Fund raisers organized were growing and selling Xmas trees and catching chickens in large chicken sheds when they were big enough for slaughter.
During his presidential reign he achieved success with several issues the club was facing. Examples of this include negotiations over easements for gas and stormwater which pass under the club’s land. Initial offers of monetary compensation were very low, but Stan eventually got compensation up to $50,000. This amount was a huge boost to the club’s coffers, bearing in mind, these were the days when members were often called upon to help with fund raising. He was involved with the formation and signing of the TECT Park lease for the Rifle Range.

Stan was hugely concerned with talk coming from DOC about removing huts in the Kaimais as DOC lacked the funds, ability/commitment to maintain huts and tracks. A lot of members will be unaware that for many years, the local DOC management were unwilling to allow local interested clubs (NZDA, trampers) to participate in hut and track upkeep on DOC land.
Stan had the ability to approach DOC and eventually gained the consent for NZDA-BOP branch to be custodians of the Maungamuka and Hurunui Huts.
When Stan put out the call to members, a bunch of willing helpers gutted, rebuilt and repainted both huts.

The formation of Kaimai Ridgeway Trust (KRT) came about because of DOC’s withdrawal from maintaining huts and tracks in the Kaimais. Stan has been a KRT trustee since its inception more than 7 years ago.
Thoughts of building a new hut on the site of the Ngamuwahine Shelter took hold in Stan’s mind and like a dog with a bone, he kept on about it. He had a vision for huts at reasonable distances apart along the North South Track.
Despite Iwi having vision and giving their approval, DOC threw many hoops and hurdles on the pathway and had reasons why a hut shouldn’t be built. Fortunately, Stan’s dogged determination won through in the end. KRT must also be given recognition here for its support and assistance with the documentation and bureaucratic requirements needed for the satisfaction of all parties. Again, volunteers were called for and over many months, Te Whare Oki Oki was constructed.

The official opening of Te Whare Oki Oki was to be an emotional day for Stan as he’d battled so many challenges and for so long – I certainly look upon the hut as Stan’s legacy.

Building of Te Whare Oki Oki Hut, 2019. L-R: Stan, Steve Pickering, Colin Forsythe, Les Nelson

Stan was always thinking about and exploring opportunities for new hunting areas. It was not unusual for him to ring and ask me what I thought about this or that. We often drove to new areas to check out the potential for club hunts.
Examples include hare hunting at Porangahau and red deer hunting around Mako Mako Hut in Te Urerewa. Stan’s negotiation with iwi gained access through Maungapohatu Station about 30 years ago.

Stan at the Mako Mako Hut, Te Ureweras, 2003

Fallow deer shoots on farms near Whanganui came about because of Stan.
Tahr hunts around Mt Cook have been organized by Stan since 2010.
Stan’s mentorship of young and inexperienced newbies will always be to me one of his most admirable qualities. He always made sure they were buddied up with an experienced hunter on club hunts and he always made sure they took some meat home.

Stan suffered a major heart attack about 13 years ago while on a club Whanganui fallow shoot. Evacuation from the area proved extremely difficult as low cloud prevented a copter landing nearby. Fortunately, after 2 weeks in Wellington Hospital, Stan was given a second chance, but things had to change. He and Arendina happened upon a property at Tapu, purchased it and retired there.
This move proved to be very beneficial. Snapper stocks out at the mussel farms have taken a hammering in the ensuing years. They both saw potential in an overgrown section across the road and alongside the Tapu River. They set about purchasing said property and along with others, have created an idyllic campsite called Riverside Retreat. Again thinking of the club, since January 2016, a Family Weekend has been held there for members to gather and enjoy their piece of paradise.

Stan’s immense dedication and service to the Club have helped make the BOP branch the success it is today.

His legacy is immense and the hole his passing has left will be profound.
His life was spent amid the natural world whether he was hunting, sea or lake fishing or tramping our NZ world renown trails. These were his happy places – he just couldn’t seem to get enough of it.

As Stan’s health slowly deteriorated, he worked on getting his sons and grandchildren out doing what he’d spent a lifetime doing and enjoying.
Arendina, his exceptionally supportive wife of 50 years, has been his rock.
Stan suddenly passed away one evening while checking out a new hunting area, sitting with feral deer running around him. His 3 sons and a grandson were nearby.

Tight lines Stan.

Les Nelson

Stan pleased with his White Tail, club hunt to Stewart Island, 2006

Stan with one job to boil the billy, Kaimanawas, 1992

Club hunt, Murchison Valley, South Island, 7:16pm Wednesday 4th November 2015.