A massive wildfire tearing through Tongariro National Park has grown to around 1600 hectares and remains out of control, with firefighters warning it could take at least a week to fully contain.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) said four ground crews, 12 helicopters, and five fixed-wing aircraft were battling the blaze, which broke out around 3.15pm on Saturday near the junction of State Highway 47 and 48.
Dozens of hikers have been evacuated from two huts, with State Highway 47 Waimarino to Tongariro, the Tongariro Crossing and Northern Circuit remaining closed.
Live on the ground from scene of blaze – watch on TVNZ+
‘Large fire front’
FENZ assistant commander Craig Gold said aerial firefighting operations were being prioritised for safety and efficiency given the rugged terrain.
“We are prioritising the air operations for safety reasons and because of their effectiveness in this terrain and over a large fire front,” he said.
Most helicopters were already in action on Sunday afternoon, with additional aircraft en route to the scene.
Specialist fire investigators have been deployed to determine the cause of the blaze.
“Anyone within the area affected by smoke should keep doors and windows shut to minimise exposure. Residents who feel unsafe or are vulnerable to smoke are encouraged to self-evacuate and stay with family or friends,” Gold said.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) confirmed that 43 hikers and a hut warden were evacuated by helicopter from Mangatepopo Hut overnight, while another nine people were evacuated from Waihohonu Hut this morning.
DOC central North Island operations director Damian Coutts said the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
“The fire has been burning in the Mangatepopo Valley area and it’s too early to say if it has caused any damage to the tracks in the area. At this stage there are no reports of damaged huts or structures,” Coutts said.
“We expect there will be significant biodiversity impacts given the size of the fire. Staff will assess this when it is safe to do so. The Mangatepopo Valley area is an important alpine ecosystem.”
Five nearby facilities — including the Hillary Outdoors Education Centre, Maungatepopo School Camp, Old Mill, Taurewa Lodge, and Avondale College Lodge — were being evacuated as a precaution while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
A no-fly zone was in place covering the airspace over the fireground and the surrounding area.
‘Ashes falling down from the sky’
Daisy Borjigin and her group had planned to hike up Mount Tongariro on Saturday afternoon, reaching the summit just in time to watch the sunset.
Borjigin told 1News she first noticed the fire while driving to the start of her hike but thought little of it as she could only see one fire truck in attendance at the time.
“But… after we passed the Soda Springs spot, we saw the huge smoke rising in the distance and it was all yellow and starting to cover up the whole sky,” she said.
Four kilometres into the hike, she and her group were met by a ranger who instructed them to go to Mangatepopo Hut to be evacuated by helicopter.
This was met by confusion and disappointment by some in her group, who thought the fire still seemed far away.
But the reality of the fire’s scale hit home when they reached the hut.
“There were ashes falling down from the sky.
“We realised it was more serious than we thought, and we were very grateful for the New Zealand rescue team and our leader.”
The helicopter dropped them off on farmland near Whakapapa fire station, and they were provided food, drink, transportation and accommodation.
“We feel very sad for the land and we pray for the animals and the regeneration of the land.”
