Source: Radio New Zealand
The charred landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Supplied/DOC
The charred landscape will add to the experience for those walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the Department of Conservation says.
A week-long rāhui was lifted on Monday following the wildfire that ripped through 3000 hectares of the national park.
DOC and Fire and Emergency will continue to monitor the area for hotspots but are confident that people will be safe on the tracks.
DOC director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson told Morning Report it had been a huge week battling the blaze.
“The walk is perfectly fine to do, but the landscape is very black.”
Visitors could only access the start of the track on Mangatepopo Road by booking a shuttle.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky, [but] there has been a little bit of damage focused around the Mangatepopo entranceway, the car park area there,” Wilson said.
“The beautiful new Pou, Te Ririō, is still standing… got a little bit of charring but I think that just adds to it. It’s a spectacular Pou and we’re really pleased that that was able to be saved but there is some damage.”
Wilson said it would be a different experience on some parts of the track.
“We’ve been really lucky that the majority of the Tongariro Crossing hasn’t been affected but the first 700 metres or so, it will be quite a charred landscape.
“It was awe-inspiring before and will be even more so now.”
Local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro placed a decade-long rāhui on areas where fires have damaged the whenua and native vegetation.
The second rāhui was put in place to heal and restore the land
“It’s about keeping people out, it’s about working together to fix the land and heal the land over some time because we know with the biodiversity loss that that’s going to be required,” Wilson said.
“What people who are walking in the area or recreation in the area can do to support the longer rāhui is just stay on the tracks, not litter, and be generally respectful of the landscape.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
