Source: Radio New Zealand
- Tourist describes ash falling from the sky before he was helicoptered from hut
- He was then evacuated from Whakapapa
- Residents in affected area can return home, but businesses not sure yet when they can reopen
- Business owners hope for short closure of Tongariro Crossing.
A tourist helicoptered out of the Tongariro National Park to avoid the fire burning through the region has described the dramatic moments he realised there was danger in the air.
Matthias Gerold was taken to Whakapapa village, and was then evacuated from there as the blaze continued.
Wet weather has provided hope today for business owners nearby, who have worried a long-term closure of the Tongariro Crossing could prove catastrophic for the region.
Emergency services delivered good news this afternoon, saying there was a significant improvement in conditions and residents were allowed to return to Whakapapa.
Tourist Matthias Gerald. RNZ/Dan Jones
Ash falling from sky
Gerold spoke to RNZ as he waited at the Waimarino railway station for a train to Wellington, after an eventful few days.
“I did the alpine crossing – and arrived at the hut, pitched my tent and saw a lot of smoke in the air.”
Everyone at the Tongariro National Park hut saw the smoke, he said.
“A guy called 111. First they told us we were safe and we could stay there for the night.”
RNZ/Dan Jones
But as the fire tore through the area on Saturday, conditions rapidly changed.
“Twenty minutes before the helicopter arrived there was not only smoke in the air, there was ash falling down. Then we were a bit scared.
“The ash was not glowing and there was nothing burning. It [the fire] always seemed far away,” he said.
“They flew us out to the state highway.”
He was taken to Whakapapa Village, but yesterday evening after going out walking, he realised that was also evacuated.
“I went to the campground six kilometres from [Waimarino] and then I was picked up by the police. They were really friendly and they drove me here.
“They dropped me at the car park here and allowed me to camp at the green spot.”
After packing his tent this morning, Gerold said he would continue his adventures in the South Island.
RNZ/Dan Jones
‘Spectacularly wild and hot’
Sam and Kaz Clarkson, who own the Skotel Alpine Resort in Whakapapa Village, were among the more than 30 people evacuated from there last night.
They were heading back from Waimarino – formerly National Park – this afternoon, saying they had plenty to do.
“What we’re dealing with out there in the park is fundamentally a brush fire rather than a forest fire.
“Although it’s spectacularly wild and hot as it burns, once it’s burned it’s gone. It doesn’t linger. Even a small amount of rain is going to make a difference.”
It did just that, with today’s rain breaking the back of the fire.
Sam and Kaz Clarkson spent last night in Waimarino after their hotel, Skotel, was evacuated. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Sam Clarkson said an area of beech forest near the village would act as a natural fire break if flames had come that way.
Emergency services were expected to make a decision tomorrow about whether tourists could return to Whakapapa and surrounding, and when roads would open.
The wet weather’s dousing of the flames was good news for business owners, such as Gillian and John Visser at the Adventure Lodge and Motel, who feared long-term closures of the popular track.
“We might as well shut down and walk away. Even though 70 percent of the income’s in summer, it’s still very much hand to mouth living here,” John Visser said of what would happen if there was a long closure.
“Everything can change. Weather can change. The mountain can spit a couple of rocks out.”
John and Gillian Visser say a long-term closure of the Tongariro Crossing would be devastating. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Tongariro Crossing Lodge owner Louis van Wyk – a volunteer firefighter who assisted with efforts to battle the blaze yesterday – was also feeling some effects of the crossing’s closure.
Officials said it was too early to know when it could reopen
“We’ve had a couple of cancellations because of the fire, because a lot of people are coming to do the crossing, and that’s closed for the next week because of the rāhui, and it’s not safe at the moment anyway,” van Wyk said.
“Other people have inquired if it’s safe to still come to us and they’ve decided to still come and stay, because they can still do other things.”
Tongariro Crossing Lodge owner Louis van Wyk. RNZ/Dan Jones
The Hillary Outdoors Education Centre, between Waimarino and Tūrangi, is closed too, meaning schools have had to postpone their visits today.
Safety manager Graeme Swift said staff were waiting to see what happened next.
“Staff were evacuated from the centre as a precaution via advice from the Civil Defence yesterday.
“We were outside the area that is directly affected and they were just evacuating just as a precaution, because that fire was still in that state of not being totally under control.”
Graeme Swift says Hillary Outdoors staff are waiting for news about when they can return to work. RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Fire and Emergency NZ said the visible signs of the fire were out but checks of hot spots were needed. Thermal imaging drones would go up tonight.
Fire investigators were looking into the cause of the blaze.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
