Replaced the fireplace. Had one night without it. The coldest I have ever been.

Took me 4h from Te Puke hut and 4h to Tussock Saddle Biv (at good pace). The Mangatainoka River is easy at low flow, with a few log jams post-cyclone but nothing major. The NZ Topo track isn't accurate; the last km is missing. The track starts at the rivers fork on the spur, well-marked by Permolat and DOC all the way.