Holy Hector!
- TJ Smith
- Jan 4, 2019
- 2 min read
Hello crappers!
Merry Shitmas and a Crappy New Year! I'm back with more of my poopscapades on New Zealand's beautiful West Coast! Next up is Hector!
Hector is one of those drive-by towns that you always admire but never quite get around to stopping in. Small and coastal, Hector is named after Sir James Hector, who was the curator of the Colonial Museum in Wellington which is now our national Museum; The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (colloquially known just as Te Papa). Prior to this though, Ol' Jimmy Heck was a geologist who first surveyed the Buller Coalfield Plateau which is just up the river from Hector township. Little Hector has adopted Hector's dolphins, named for the same fella, as their mascot as the endemic species is often seen playing off the town's coast.*
I won't get too bogged down with the piss-tory though! What of Hector's public toilet?!
Now, like the township itself, Hector's public toilet is easy to miss. If you keep a look out for the pretty statue of the Hector's dolphins though, you will be just outside a carpark. Turn in there and the toilet will become apparent.
Let me tell you this was worth the stop. I'm not easily impressed by toilets but this one had me swooning (and not from the smell!).
First off, the ramp. We love accessibility in this house and not only was one of the town stalls an accessible one but they even went to the effort of putting in a ramp to ensure that everyone gets the relief they need! Both stalls were gender inclusive and marvelously clean, completely plumbed and there was soap! So all very functional and good but now for the fancy-smancy fun stuff!
Hector's toilets are all completely self-contained. By this I mean, not only are they a joy to experience but they're also very environmentally conscious. Both stalls have a skylight to allow as much natural light as possible into the space and they're painted white so that, during the day, it all seems very light and bright in there. For night time, LED lights are installed so that you don't have to take a crap in the dark! But it still gets better! The LEDs are solar-powered by the little panels on the roof! AND IT HAS ITS OWN WATER TANK AND ROOF RUNOFF SYSTEM! Hector's loos are completely self-sustaining! By harnessing the sun and the rain, Hector ensures you have a very pleasant toilettng experience without all the environmental pressure that our bodily refuse can cause!
I'm telling you, I'm so impressed! I'm far too excited about these toilets! Look how many exclamation points I'm using!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly, Hector is well worth the stop and, after you've pampered yourself in their fancy friendly loos, take a seat in the picnic area near by, have a bite and keep a look out because you might even see Hector's dolphins!
(Especially) Happy crapping!
*https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20958/ngakawau-gorge-and-hector-township
