A sod house mystery on Motu Ihupuku

The southernmost island of Aotearoa has a twisted history that is literally clouded in mist.

Historian and conservationist Norm Judd has been looking at the history of Motu Ihupuku, or Campbell Island, for over 40 years.

He's racing the clock to find out more about the origins of a 19th century "sod house" structure he believes was created by a shipwrecked sailors early in the early 1800s.

Judd is a former park ranger who was invited in 1975 on an expedition to go to Motu Ihupuku in 1975 and he's been obsessed with the place ever since. 

A view down Tucker Valley to the head of the harbour

A piece of the bowl from a clay smoking pipe bowl recovered from a test pit in the Tucker Cove hut floor by archaeologist Nigel Prickett.

A view of the head of the main harbour, Perseverance Harbour.

Courtesy of Steve Croasdale

The sign is a castaway depot finger-pointer - Courtesy of Brett Fotheringham