Fire response at Whangamarino wetland winds down

Date:  29 October 2024

Fire and Emergency New Zealand initially responded to the fire on 21 October with support from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and mana whenua.

With the fire under control, management was handed to DOC to continue mop-up and start monitoring for hotspots from Saturday 26 October.

Over Labour Weekend, DOC aerial and ground crews inspected along the fire perimeter using thermal drones. Today DOC confirms there are no further hotspots and will move to a scaled-down monitoring approach.

The burnt area contains the largest and most intact raised peatland habitat in Whangamarino. This globally rare habitat is one of the few remaining raised peatlands in the southern hemisphere – and the peat soil plays an important role in storing carbon. The fire released an estimated 96,000-181,800 tonnes of greenhouse gasses back into the atmosphere.

The unique habitat supports a high diversity of threatened native wetland species, including black mudfish/waikaka, Australasian bittern/matuku-hūrepo, and spotless crake/pūweto. It also hosts many threatened plant species and is the only known location of the critically endangered swamp helmet orchid.

DOC’s Regional Director Tinaka Mearns says DOC worked closely with Fire and Emergency, Ngā Muka linking to Ngāti Naho, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Māhuta and other groups to ensure ecologically and culturally sensitive areas threatened by the fire were prioritised for protection.

“Individual animals will have perished in this fire, and there has been an enormous loss of habitat.

“However, we protected around 148 hectares of peatland, thanks to the quick response and co-ordinated effort of everyone involved. This area will be critical to the vegetation recovery as it provides a seed source.

“We wish to extend our huge gratitude to everyone who helped with this collaborative effort to control the fire. After taking a breath, we will move towards creating a recovery plan with the same collaborative approach. It will likely take decades to achieve the work.”

Ngā Muka Trust acknowledge the expertise and professionalism of the fire team throughout the Whangamarino Fire.

Ngā Muka Trust’s Kelvin Tupuhi says, “the kaitiaki implementation was well received and deemed important across all sectors. We take the positive from this, and look forward to a reset of our taonga. Mana whenua will continue to advocate matauranga Māori throughout the recovery process. Nga mihi kia koutou katoa.”

Tinaka Mearns says the fire serves as a reminder of the importance of wetlands to species and to people.

“Wetlands can be a source of carbon emissions when degraded - for example by draining peatlands - but are effective in storing carbon and removing CO2 if maintained or restored.

“Bringing water back into wetlands, restoring them and controlling any fires in their vicinity will reduce their risk to future fire damage. This protects unique plants and animals, plus keeps carbon out of the atmosphere.”

DOC Incident controller Steve Bolton says, “the whakatauki gifted to the response by Kelvin Tupuhi  ‘Ehara He Toa Takitahi, Engari He Toa Takitini’ recognises that the outcome could not be achieved by one alone but by the many.

“This includes the fire fighters, their families, employers and the community surrounding the wetland.”

Background information

North Waikato wetland fire update #14 | Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Whangamarino Wetland: Waikato places to visit

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