Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle

Fire crews tackle large fire in bamboo at Whanganui’s Kowhai Park

Whanganui Chronicle
10 Oct, 2023 01:13 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Firefighters at the blaze at Kowhai Park. Photo / Steve Carle

Firefighters at the blaze at Kowhai Park. Photo / Steve Carle

Whanganui fire crews have brought a large blaze at Whanganui’s Kowhai Park under control.

The fire was in the James McGregor Arboretum area of the park beside the Whanganui River.

Fire and Emergency NZ was called to the scene around 1.15pm on Tuesday.

Shift manager Murray Dunbar said the fire was in a 20m by 30m patch of tall bamboo and was well alight by the time crews arrived. Three fire appliances and a tanker from Whanganui Fire Station attended.

Fire in bamboo at Whanganui's Kowhai Park. Photo / Steve Carle
Fire in bamboo at Whanganui's Kowhai Park. Photo / Steve Carle
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The city is being buffeted by strong winds this afternoon.

Isis Dennison-Downie was in the area when fire crews arrived.

“So we were coming down and we saw them start shutting down every exit along here, and they brought a big fire truck in and he was driving down trying to work out where the fire was.

“There’s been all this popping and cracking, and there’s been ash everywhere on the ground and flying around. They’ve got one of the water pumps hooked up over there.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“We turned up just as they were putting the cordon in.”

Fire in bamboo at Kowhai Park next to Matarawa Stream mouth. Photo / Bevan Conley
Fire in bamboo at Kowhai Park next to Matarawa Stream mouth. Photo / Bevan Conley

The fire was brought under control at 2.12pm and crews remained on site dampening down.

State Highway 4/Anzac Parade was closed between Willis St and Ikitara Rd for a time.

Whanganui District Council community, property and places general manager Sarah O’Hagan said police had contacted the council about the fire and it was waiting for further information.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

Whanganui Chronicle

'New lease on life': Green space to become community playground

29 Oct 01:43 AM
Premium
Whanganui Chronicle

Power struggle: Global energy firm fights plan to mine off Taranaki coast

28 Oct 10:00 PM
Whanganui Chronicle

Done deal: Ōamaru-based flight school setting up Whanganui base

28 Oct 05:00 PM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Whanganui Chronicle

'New lease on life': Green space to become community playground
Whanganui Chronicle

'New lease on life': Green space to become community playground

'This is a chance to create an inspiring play space for our tamariki.'

29 Oct 01:43 AM
Premium
Premium
Power struggle: Global energy firm fights plan to mine off Taranaki coast
Whanganui Chronicle

Power struggle: Global energy firm fights plan to mine off Taranaki coast

28 Oct 10:00 PM
Done deal: Ōamaru-based flight school setting up Whanganui base
Whanganui Chronicle

Done deal: Ōamaru-based flight school setting up Whanganui base

28 Oct 05:00 PM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP