A popular Auckland track will partially re-open to the public this weekend, after a fire ripped through the area last year.
By Local Democracy Reporter Torika Tokalau
Fairy Falls tracks in the Waitākere Ranges suffered significant damage from a fire last November, destroying a large platform near a popular swimming hole, 80m of stairs and a bridge that crossed the waterfall.
Firefighters had to hike 25 minutes into the track to reach the blaze, which scorched an area about 150 by 75 metres — larger than a football field or three Olympic-sized swimming pools laid end to end.
Auckland Council regional parks principal ranger David Markham said work has been underway in the area, and a section of the tracks will re-open on Saturday.
Visitors will be able to return to the top of the waterfalls and enjoy the viewpoint, however access to the waterfalls and swimming hole will remain closed.
Markham said they were working to restore access to the swimming hole as soon as it is realistically possible.
"In the meantime, we hope that people will enjoy being able to return to see the falls and allow us to continue meeting conservation goals in this area," Markham said.
The closed section would need to meet the kauri safe requirements before it re-opened, he said.
He warned of a complete closure of the entire track if visitors did not stay away from the closed parts of the track.
"It is important for people to follow the signage and keep to the section of track that is open.
"A complete closure may be required to protect the forest and maintain safety, if visitors don't respect the ongoing closure of the lower track."
The fire occurred just over a year after the track re-opened.
Before that, it was closed for six years to prevent the spread of kauri dieback disease through the ranges, with ratepayers forking out $1.6 million for its renewal.
Markham said the cost of fire damage to the Fairy Falls track was currently estimated at $690,000.
"Some impacts cannot be assessed in monetary terms, like the immediate impact on the health of ancient kauri trees and flora within this section of the forest."
He said an ongoing challenge to was the need to prioritise projects that also require significant funding.
"We are undertaking several major renewals this year to restore a few tracks that have remained closed since 2023 due to impacts from the severe weather events."
Henderson Massey councillor Shane Henderson welcomed the partial re-opening of a popular track.
"The more we can open up safely is fantastic news for people in the city that like to hike at the ranges. A lot of hard work has been taken to get tracks open back up," Henderson said.
He reiterated the restriction advisory, and that council would close the whole track if rules weren't followed.
"Hopefully it won't come to that. Rules are there for our environmental protection, let's be good custodians of the rangers for the future generation.
"Don't ruin it for everybody else."
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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