p3 Westport Waitangi Day celebration
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
FREE
Yurt comes to Charleston by Rose O’Connor-Neilsen in Westport
W
ith the housing crisis hitting New Zealand, Charleston’s Rita Thomas has found a novel solution. Her original plan was to build a tiny home so she did — a yurt, which she said was a considerably cheaper option. Based on the traditional Mongolian yurt, Ms Thomas researched yurt building on-line before undertaking the venture last summer, with the help of her father, Bruce Thomas. She works as a ski technician in Wanaka in winter and a rafting guide based in Buller in summer. As her yurt is built on a trailer, she took it to Wanaka last winter and set up in a camping group. Equipped with a kitchen and a wood burner, as well as three layers of wall and ceiling, she said it was really warm in the colder temperatures. Ms Thomas sourced the required 75 manuka poles locally for the ceiling which she stripped of bark. She did the same for the 150 beech saplings for the walls which are tied together in a lattice-type pattern which can be concertinaed for carting.
Rita beside the central pole with the ceiling poles and top crown wheel sections.
PICTURES: Rose O’Connor-Neilsen
Buy Honda from Honda. www.honda.co.nz
Ms Thomas and her father sewed the outer layer of PVC panels to fit the framework using an industrial sewing machine. They did the same with the insulating layer of woollen felt and the heavy duty canvas layer which forms the inside. It took several months to build. The yurt has three roll down PVC windows and a large wooden door. It has a strong central pole like a tent with the crown wheel at the top which the roof poles slot into. A strong wire connects the ceiling and wall poles to the metal kitchen at one end of the trailer and the door framework at the other. When travelling the side parts of the round 7m diameter hardwood ply flooring fold up to form the sides of the trailer. Ms Thomas said she was able to put the yurt up on her own, but two people could put it together in about half a day. Ms Thomas can be self sufficient, with solar panels and gas for cooking, a chemical toilet and water collection if required. Her father, who also made the fully warranted trailer, is considering making more yurts if there is enough interest. ‘Journey Yurts’ is the Facebook page they have set up to map some of their yurt building adventure.
Rita outside the yurt she built with her father.
Coastwide Honda 5 Tarapuhi Street, Greymouth Telephone 768 4126 After Hours: Ken 768 5376 Graeme 762 6559
Sole West Coast Subaru Parts & Servicing Agent Warrants of Fitness, Batteries, Tyres Auto Electrical Repairs, Mechanical Repairs Car Audio Specialists, Servicing Parts Department
2008 TOYOTA COROLLA
2008 HONDA JAZZ
2014 HONDA CRV SPORT
1.8, 6 speed manual, 4 airbags, ABS, towbar, NZ new, one owner, 37,900kms .................................... $10,499
1.3, auto, 4 airbags, ABS, alloy wheels, metallic silver, 75,800kms, NZ new ............................................$8995
2.4 auto, 6 airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, navigation, reverse camera, heated leather seats, push button start, NZ new, one owner, 45,000kms.. $32,500
Phone 03 755 8690 Corner of Revell & Hamilton Streets, Hokitika Email: shelley@totalautomotive.co.nz