Press Release – Greater Wellington Regional Council
A new, multi-level wildfire risk management system is being rolled out across all regional parks, as Wellington prepares for a hot, dry summer.
Aligned with the New Zealand fire danger class criteria, each of the six risk levels triggers specific precautionary controls, including the closure of whole parks or sections of track. The code levels are represented by colour, with green the lowest risk, and purple extreme fire danger.
Greater Wellington Eastern Parks team leader Ricky Clarkson says the system is a first for the region, as a proactive approach to increased fire risk.
“Like Fire and Emergency New Zealand, our new wildfire risk management plan uses a colour-coded system to assess the level of risk and restrict access to, or activities within, the regional parks,” Clarkson says.
“The El Niño weather pattern is contributing to a riskier-than-normal fire season. And as we mitigate the impacts of climate change the threat of wildfires has increased.
“Dry and exposed areas like Baring Head/Ōrua-pouanui and Queen Elizabeth Park will have a higher risk compared to denser growth parks like Kaitoke. Our team will be…
