This large scrub fire at Waiharara in the Far North in January 2022, took firefighters 20 days to put out, at a cost of more than $10 million. With the Far North dry, a restricted fire season has been imposed on the region.
This large scrub fire at Waiharara in the Far North in January 2022, took firefighters 20 days to put out, at a cost of more than $10 million. With the Far North dry, a restricted fire season has been imposed on the region.
Northland moved into a restricted fire season last Friday until further notice, meaning that anyone who wants to light an outdoor fire will need a fire permit authorised by Fire and Emergency, which can be applied for at checkitsalright.nz.
The fire restrictions come after water restrictions have been imposed in some Far North communities.
As well, Fire and Emergency has suspended all fire permits issued to applicants in Northland this week. Permits were suspended from 11am Tuesday, and the decision will be reviewed on Sunday.
Fire and Emergency said the region had had ‘significantly less than expected’ rainfall and hot, dry conditions over the last couple of months. There is also higher wind speeds with lower relative humidity preceding the wet weather forecast for this weekend.
Fire and Emergency Northland district manager Wipari Henwood said very little or no rain is predicted in the region for the next week or so, with strong southwest winds continuing.
Last summer the Far North was not placed under a restricted fire season until mid-February.
“Grass is drying out and forecast spike days - where fire risk rises sharply - increase the difficulty of controlling fires quickly once they have started,” Henwood said.
“As we have seen with recent fires, it takes a large number of our fire brigades, many of them volunteers, with supporting resources and aircraft to contain and control wildfires in Northland.”
A scrub fire near Cape Reinga closed State Highway 1 to Te Rerenga Wairua / Cape Reinga and Sandy Bay Track in January 2020, and authorities worry wildfires could break out again in the Far North this summer.
He said large wildfires such as the Waiharara fire in 2021/22 and near Cape Reinga in 2023 required huge resources to combat and control.
“It took eight days to extinguish the Cape Reinga fire at a cost of more than $1.5 million, while the Waiharara fire burnt for 50 days at a cost of more than $10 million,” Henwood said.
“It’s these sorts of fires which we are trying to avoid by implementing a restricted fire season now.”
The restricted fire season covers all of Te Tai Tokerau Northland including Muriwhenua, where a restricted fire season is already in place.
All Department of Conservation land on islands in Northland remain in a prohibited fire season, which means all outdoor fires are banned. Aupouri Peninsula is subject to a total fire ban.
The restrictions come after a relatively dry 2024, with some centres, including Dargaville, recording their lowest annual rainfall totals ever.
Niwa’s climate summary for December shows Northland was warm for the month, with Kaitāia, Kerikeri, Purerua in the Bay of Islands, Kaikohe and Whangārei having near-record high temperatures. Cape Reinga recorded its highest extreme minimum temperature ever for December.
Level 3 water restrictions, which bans the use of hoses, sprinklers, irrigation systems and water blasters, are in place for Ōmanaia-Rawene and Ōpononi-Ōmāpere.
Level 2 water restrictions, banning the use of outdoor sprinklers or irrigation systems, are also in place in Kawakawa-Moerewa, Kerikeri-Waipapa and Paihia-Ōpua-Waitangi.
