The Department of Conservation is grappling with the environmental loss at Tongariro National Park after a devastating fire scorched nearly 3000ha of park land.
The fire broke out on Saturday, November 8 and prompted some evacuations, and days of intense firefighting efforts from crews on the ground and in the sky. Rain forecast for the area significantly helped efforts to extinguish the blaze.
A DOC spokesperson said it “will take weeks for us to understand the severity of the damage” from the fire.
Large tracts of Tongariro National Park blackened with ash from a huge wildfire over the weekend. (Source: Supplied)
“It is still too early to speak to the long-term effects to ecosystems, flora and fauna at place,” they said.
“But what we can say is that with a fire of this magnitude, we will see significant damage to the biodiversity in the area.
“We ask for your patience and understanding.”
Yesterday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) handed control of the park back to the Department of Conservation to lead the continued response.
“Due to difficult terrain, ground crews were unable to access all areas of the fire impacted land,” a DOC spokesperson said.
“The FENZ specialist drone team will continue thermal imaging flights to determine if the fire is fully controlled, though no new hotspots have been identified.”
DOC said some tracks remained closed, including the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Mangatepopo Track and Tongariro Northern Circuit north of Waihohonu.
This had been a concern for local tourism businesses heading into the usually busy summer months, who feared for revenue if people were unable to visit the various conservation spots and attractions.
Earlier this week, Tongariro Crossing Lodge owner Louis van Wyk said there were other things to do in the area, but the alpine crossing track was one of the main tourist attractions in the region.
“So we are thinking about what this season is going to look like if there’s a long closure on that track,” he said.
Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro have placed two rāhui on the area, one on the fire ground and Whakapapa area walks until November 17.
The second was a restorative rāhui set to last 10 years, over the fire ground itself which would not keep people out, but instead encompassed the spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing of Tongariro.
“It’s a rāhui for people to come together, pool resources, and heal. We’re still expecting people to walk on tracks, but we’re looking to a future where people will come here just to be a part of the healing of the maunga,” said Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro spokesperson, Te Ngaehe Wanikau.
Investigations into the cause of the blaze were also ongoing, with FENZ issuing a plea to drivers with dashcam footage who were on State Highway 47 on Saturday afternoon between 1-3pm to come forward.
