Five people have been trespassed from a Hawke's Bay Department of Conservation campsite after starting a fire during a total fire ban so they could have a "Kiwi camping experience".
DOC Ranger and Compliance Officer Rod Hansen said there was currently a total fire ban at all DOC managed land in Hawke's Bay, including all DOC campsites.
"The holiday period is a great time to get into the outdoors, but it's also the driest time of the year and the risk of a small fire getting out of control is very real – as we've seen with the recent Tangoio forest fire," he said.
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That fire at Tangoio, north of Napier, spread over 350ha, with dozens of fire fighters spending days to get the blaze under control even though response to the start of the fire was in a matter of minutes.