Mt Stewart lookout tower rising from the ashes of scrub fire

A helicopter makes a drop on Mt Stewart just out of Taihape

Four years after the lookout tower on Mt Stewart was destroyed in a scrub fire the rebuild is under way.

The fire had begun in grass on Mt Stewart, north of the Taihape township, four years ago and had destroyed the lookout tower.

As it took hold, the fire had been fuelled by macrocarpa trees and indigenous plants.

Taihape Community Development Trust manager Elizabeth Mortland said the Rangitikei Environment Group had cleared Mt Stewart of old man's beard and other weeds.

The Friends of Mt Stewart maintained the reserve and replanted it with native trees and shrubs.

Keith Rowland, who lives at the foot of Mt Stewart, said the poles were already in place for the tower and the building of the tower would probably start in the new year.

"A helicopter was flying all the building material in last week," he said.