Firefighters, backed by helicopters, continue to battle a large vegetation fire at Tongaririo National Park that broke out yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the blaze just after 1.10pm yesterday, where Fire and Emergency NZ said multiple fires had merged into a single large one.
In an update this afternoon, Incident Controller Assistant Commander Renee Potae said the fire was 80% contained and covered 296 hectares with an 8.4km perimeter.
FENZ said 30 firefighters were on the ground, blacking out a 15m containment line along the southern flank.
Two helicopters were working from the air.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire, near the site of a blaze in November, just after 1.10pm on Monday. (Source: Supplied)
"We still have work to do this afternoon as we aim to get the fire fully contained but I want to praise everyone for the effort they have put in today, including the two Department of Conservation crews we’ve had working alongside us," Potae said.
"We’ve got a drone team coming in who will fly the fireground tonight to help identify any deep-seated hotspots, while we will have one crew monitoring the fireground overnight."
The blaze tore through swathes of vegetation at Tongariro National Park. (Source: 1News)
Potae said earlier conditions had been favourable overnight, with crews needing to deal with just one hot spot.
The fire which broke out yesterday was in close proximity to another wildfire which devastated parts of the national park last month. A total of 3000 hectares were scorched in that blaze, leaving much of the landscape blackened.
In this week's blaze, State Highway 47 from Waimarino to Tongariro was closed between the intersections of SH46 and SH48.
"We ask people to stay well away from the area and respect all road closures and detours," FENZ said.
Manawhenua Ngāti Hikairo and the Department of Conservation were "working closely" with the incident management team.
"There is a high level of interest from the community, and particularly all those who were significantly impacted by the last fire."
DOC last night said it had cancelled all bookings for the Mangatepopo Hut, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and the Tongariro Northern Circuit until tomorrow.
"We’ve also suggested visitors may wish to leave the Whakapapa Village area for their safety," DOC operations manager Libby O’Brien said.
The crossing would be closed today.
"We are working hard to ensure anyone who is currently in Tongariro National Park is aware of the fire and is able to return home safely."
O’Brien said there was no detailed information on the scale of the damage as yet.
“We aren’t aware of any structural damage, though we anticipate significant impacts on biodiversity in the affected area. These are things we’ll work through once the fire is controlled.”
Iwi asks public to remain away from damaged landscape
A rāhui on the land burned in the previous fire has been extended to the new scorched area.
Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro said: "Today, we confirm that a new rāhui will be placed over the latest burn area, effective immediately.
"This new rāhui will be formally incorporated into the existing Rāhui Whakaora, which was established following last month’s fire. By linking the two areas, the entire landscape affected by both events will now sit within a unified 10-year rāhui, protecting the whenua while natural regeneration begins and long-term restoration planning continues."
The iwi said it was continuing to work alongside Fire and Emergency, DOC, Police, and other agencies "who are responding tirelessly to this fire".
"We acknowledge their efforts and the care they have shown for our whenua and waahi tapu.
"We ask the public, visitors, and all those who love Tongariro to uphold and respect this rāhui. It is a protective measure – not just for the land, but for the wellbeing of our community and for the safety of those responding on the ground and in the air."
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