Two-year recovery for burnt headland

The damage caused by the bushfire at Mangawhai. Picture / Stewart Lind

A blackened wasteland will remain on the headland at Mangawhai Heads for at least two years after this weekend's blaze -- just eight years after recovering from its last accidental fire.

The fire on coastal council land near the beach resort of Mangawhai, about 120km north of Auckland, started about 10pm on Saturday and burnt four to five hectares before being brought under control about 11pm.

The blaze was started by a man lighting a skyrocket on the beach that went awry.

Ten years ago, people having a bonfire at the foot of the same piece of land started a fire causing a similar amount of damage, said Des Partington of the Mangawhai Heads Fire Service.

He added: "It'll be up to two years before it starts to come back because you're looking at vertical cliffs, 90 per cent is rock -- it takes a long time for things to grow back over it."

He said there was a total fire ban in the area, which included fireworks.

The man who started the fire could face a bill of $20,000, Mr Partington said.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) coordinated the firefighting because the blaze was within 1km of DOC coastal land at Mangawhai.

Mr Partington said DOC gave a complete all clear yesterday at 1pm.

But he said the locals would still be keeping an eye on the area.

- NZPA