Obituary for the YHA (youth hostel association)
The YHA has closed it’s doors after 89 years of providing accomodation to Backpackers & Travellers.
They were a victim of the extended lockdowns, and no foriegn tourists been allowed in the country for years.
For over half a century, they were the only accomodation available for travellers on a budget, thus they provided an invaluable service.
It was started off in New Zealand in 1932 by Cora Wilding and was a non profit organisation.
https://www.yha.co.nz/about/our-heritage
They had always provided a bed for the night with a large communal kitchin which was always well equiped. The common room was always full of books and games, along with the ubigious ‘National Geographic’ magazines.
To keep the costs down, there was a roster of chores to be done by the guests who were staying.
I first learnt about them in 1985, when I was 19yrs old, with little money, but a burning desire to see the country.
So off I went on a 250cc motorcycle and cruised around the South island, staying at YHA’s everywhere I went.
Some of the places were right off the beaten track and quite remote. I always loved the solitude there, along with the fellow travellers, who were always insightful, and carefree.
It was always really neat spending time with foreign travellers. They would mostly be Germans with a few English and there always seemed to a sole Swiss person everywhere I went. It was rare to meet another Kiwi staying there.
Over the years, there some places I always went back to often. It just seemed that life tied me up in knots, and these places helped me see things in perspective.
Then I got older, got married, had kids, but I still remembered the good times I had, and we travelled as a family and stayed at YHA’s, when ever we could.
Thank you YHA, you will be missed.
Uncoffined 
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