Outdoors groups are being given $700,000 to take over the job of looking after rarely-used Conservation Department huts in remote areas.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith announced the grant in Nelson on Monday night.
It's been welcomed by recreational groups, which say their volunteers will make good use of the money.
The Milford, the Routeburn, and the Heaphy, are just a few of New Zealand's great walks, with well-serviced huts and stunning landscapes that attract significant numbers of tourists every year.
By contrast, Nick Smith said, the backcountry huts might be lucky to be visited 20 nights a year.
He said despite being little used, they cost the Department of Conservation $4000 a year to inspect and maintain, and it was a better idea to pay outdoor clubs to take over the work.
Dr Smith said the outdoor clubs, whether they were trampers, hunters or mountain bikers, were keen to get into the outdoors.
"The amount of volunteer effort you know that's involved here is about 20 minutes per club member averaged over these three huge organisations. I think it's beneficial for everybody and I hope it actually strengthens our hunting, tramping and mountain bike clubs."
The money is being distributed by a group comprised of Federated Mountain Clubs, the Deerstalkers Association, and the Trail Fund, representing about 35,000 people.
Federated Mountain Clubs president Robin McNeill said members would put the money to good use.
He said in the past it had always been difficult to get to a backcountry hut with a load of materials.
"This funding means you're going to be able to fly the stuff in and put a solid weekend's work in and get a whole heap of work done instead of spending half the day on the Saturday, another half on the Sunday going in and out."
New Zealand Alpine Club general manager Sam Newton said backcountry huts were a remnant of the deer culling days of the 1960s and 1970s, and there was no shortage of good keen men in his club willing to get stuck in.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith said if this grant was successful, it could pave the way for similar schemes in the future.
