'Extreme fire risk': Fire season restrictions across most of New Zealand

Thursday, 13 February 2020

The nationwide fire risk has skyrocketed with fire season restrictions across the entire North Island.

The North Island and most of the south is now in either a prohibited or restricted fire season, Fire and Emergency said on Thursday.

Wellington has also declared a restricted season which will come into effect at 8am on Friday, February 14.

Rural Fire manager, Tim Mitchell said the hot and dry conditions had created extreme fire risk, including in areas such as Northland, Auckland and Waikato which haven't traditionally experienced such extreme fire danger for an extended period.

The Far North is fast running out of water, and heading for another drought.

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'Please pay attention to the fire season,' he said in a statement.

'If you are in an area where there is a prohibited fire season there is a total fire ban. No fires are permitted, including rubbish fires. This is because there is a very real risk that in the current conditions a fire could easily spread and get out of control.

Dry conditions have taken hold over much of the country.

'If you are in an area where there is a restricted fire season you will require a permit if you need to light a fire. You may also have to comply with specific conditions on your permit so you can light your fire safely.'

The fire seasons can change with the weather forecasts and conditions.

Waipa District Council is ramping up efforts in order to get residents and commercial businesses to conserve as much water as possible. Dry grass and paddocks looking out from Mount Pirongia.

Mitchell said all New Zealanders were urged to be careful and take precautions to prevent a fire starting or getting out of control.

'It only takes one spark to start a fire so don't risk it. Some routine activities like driving vehicles through roadside vegetation or machinery work, can cause a fire in these extremely dry conditions.

'If you have to, use any machinery that could spark such as lawnmowers, welding, or even a plough, in the morning or evenings - during the cooler parts of the day.

As water restrictions take hold in parts of Northland, Toki Te Whata replenishes his cattle water trough.

He also advised people to make sure any permitted fires or historic burn sites from the past two months were fully extinguished.

'Even though they may seem out they have the potential to remain hot and flare up in these conditions.'

According to Niwa, drought conditions in parts of Northland, Auckland and Waikato are now as severe as early 2013, one of New Zealand's worst droughts on record.

The upper North Island - Northland in particular - was experiencing widespread severe meteorological drought.

The Far north towns of Kaikohe and Kaitaia have also been critically low on water, after a record hot and dry 2019 was topped by drought conditions this year.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has declared an adverse event in drought-stricken Northland, unlocking $80,000 in Government support for the region.

Auckland is set to break a record for the region's longest dry spell, according to Niwa forecasters.

On Saturday it will be 40 consecutive days since the region last had rainfall, breaking the previous record of 39 days set in 2013.

Niwa forecaster Ben Noll said with no rain forecast, it was almost certain to become 40 days on Saturday.

More than 20,000 Auckland residents who rely on rain water are experiencing water shortages as their tanks dry up.

Rural residents west, northwest and north of Auckland face waits up to six weeks long to buy water for their tanks.

The New Zealand Drought Index shows that meteorological drought has also emerged in northern Gisborne and northern Canterbury.

While much of the rest of the country was unusually dry, except for the western and lower South Island.

As well as Wellington, water restrictions in the Tasman District have also tightened, as well as access to some rural roads.

Information about permits and fire seasons can be found at www.checkitsalright.nz.