Excitement on the reopening of Tongariro Park.
The Tongariro Alpine Park was officially reopened on November 17, after a fire burned over 30000 hectares of the conservation. The park, which has been under investigation, was temporarily closed to determine the cause and effect it had.
According to the Fire and Emergency spokesperson, they had deployed around 30 firefighters per day to the scene for the first three days of the fire, and later, the Department of Conservation crew took over.
With 15 helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft from: Tauranga, Warkworth, Eltham, Wairoa, Taupo, Hastings, Otorohanga, Pahiatua, Feilding, Otane, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Havelock North and North Canterbury.
According to Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Central North Island operations director Damian Coutts said all tracks, excluding Mangatepopo Track, would reopen after being deemed safe by FENZ. (Fire and Emergency services)
Residents have taken it to celebrate this on Facebook to support the move; Richard Hokianga urged people to, have fun exploring the wonderful landscape.
Hokianga said, “Be respectful with its mana, history and what the place represents and what it has been through.” He advised visitors to be mindful of the weather as it changes quickly.
Karen Crawley said that the park was forged in fire and ash. She noted that the regrowth has started, and it is beautiful to see it.
“The Kaitiakatinga now is to keep the broom and pine or any other pest plants out so that this beautiful native regeneration can thrive.” She said.
Pauline Cox hopes that everyone will have a lot of Mana and appreciate what they are walking on. This land, she said, has been scarred and needs time to heal.
Although Alison Osman is still curious about the cause of the fire. He noted that it will be very sad if it were human-caused, but if it’s natural, then it is nature doing what it does.
“The burning away of the old will make way for the new.”Osman said.
