Seeking advice for Dusky, 3 Passes, Heaphy & more

Hi everyone :) I've been out of NZ for almost 18 months. Before then I'd done a few tramps (mostly day trips from Auckland), Hillary trail. I've been in the UK since, and so have focused all my efforts on the mountaineering over here (trying to get my ML) - mostly North Wales and a few other places. I'm coming back to New Zealand for just under 5 weeks in March. I've arranged some trips, in the order we'll do them they are: - Dusky track (4 days to the sound, 1 rest day, 4 days to Manapouri, 2 days spare) - Three Passes track (budgeting 4 days, with 1 spare day) - Heaphy track - Modified Tablelands circuit track (we'll go via Lodestone day 1, pre-dawn ascent of Mt Arthur day 2, and walk out day 3 - mountains are optional though). I've sorted out the maps I need, and been in touch with an online printer to print them. I've got a sample coming any day now, and will get the rest. Some advice on waterproof maps would be nice - are the laminated ones okay? I'm trying the repro-online ones printed on Tyvek, as over in the UK we have these great Harvey's maps that are on plastic and waterproof, really light and good for refolding while in the rain. According to my research, it's lighter and easier to have a radio receiver (for the weather reports) + PLB, than a mountain radio. Sounds about right? Any pitfalls? Unsure on the footwear needed. I'm torn between wearing my trail runners (Inov8 Roclites), or buying a new pair of boots (I have leather boots in the UK, but I suspect they are too heavy for wearing for 8 days on the Dusky). Would trail runners cope? Otherwise I might need to get a pair of light boots that will breathe well (so not waterproof ones - advice would be nice if this is the case) Is a 30m bit of half-rope (7.8mm diameter) a good idea for the river crossings on these tracks? Or is it dead weight and we can get by without it? Has the snow/ice on Three Passes melted enough so that we won't all need crampons + ice axe? I was thinking I could bring a single ice axe and chop steps, and probably have the rope to belay any of the others. What about a raincoat? I have a very good quality hardshell raincoat, would a softshell work better with the temperatures in Fiordland (e.g. I will sweat a lot more in a hardshell)? I'm planning to sleep in huts on each - should I bring a tent on any of these trips in case (I plan to speak to the boat operator before Dusky to find out if we'll likely clash with another trip)? Bivy bag maybe? I'm planning to bring a synthetic summer sleeping bag (rated for maybe 5 degrees C), and thermal underwear as sleeping clothes - for most of the time I suspect this will be warm enough. Any pitfalls? Any other advice would be very much appreciated. :) Best regards, -CBL_Jon