DoC counts cost of fires in Far North

The Department of Conservation (DoC) expects the cost of two Far North fires at Kaimaumau and Te Paki last week to run to "tens of thousands of dollars".

The cause of the Kaimaumau fire is as yet unknown, but the Te Paki fire began when a car drove off the road and crashed into a manuka tree, setting the bush alight.

Kaitaia area manager Jonathon Maxwell said the cost in terms of dollars would have a big impact on DoC's funds in the Kaitaia area.

DoC said in a statement that the Kaimaumau fire claimed 123ha of wetland, home to many rare and endangered species including black mudfish, northland green geckos and native orchids.

At Te Paki, around 230ha of reserve containing unique species like bartlett's rata, sun orchids, kauri trees and kauri and flax snails was destroyed.

DoC Kaitaia biodiversity assets ranger Janeen Collings said it could take 10 years for the area to recover to its "pre-fire" state.

- NZPA