Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is warning of elevated wildfire danger across several regions as temperatures rise, humidity drops, and winds pick up, and is asking the public to reconsider activities that could generate sparks or open flames.
After a wet holiday period, hotter summer conditions have returned across Aotearoa New Zealand, with forecasts showing temperatures exceeding 30C in some areas alongside dry and windy conditions. “This weekend, many parts of the country will be experiencing elevated fire danger conditions, with temperatures expected to surpass 30 degrees in some locations, wind gusts of 30km/h at times, and low humidity. These conditions are what we call a perfect storm for wildfire risk,” said Nick Pyatt, FENZ deputy chief executive, prevention.
FENZ has highlighted Canterbury, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti, and Northland as districts where the risk is expected to be highest over the coming days. Pyatt said most wildfire ignitions are still linked to human behaviour. “97% of wildfires in Aotearoa New Zealand are caused by people. We can’t control the fire risk, but we can control our actions,” he said.
FENZ is asking residents, businesses, and rural landholders in affected areas to review weekend and holiday plans that involve any activity likely to produce sparks, heat, or open flame, including the use of power tools, mowing, welding, and burning. “If your weekend plans include any activities involving an outdoor fire or spark/heat generating activities such as using power tools and mowing the lawn, we’re asking you to consider postponing these activities,” Pyatt said.
Pyatt also called on people to check older burn sites. “Physically check any burn piles from the last few weeks are fully extinguished. If in doubt, put more water on it to make sure it’s fully extinguished ahead of these extreme conditions. In these conditions, all it takes is one spark or ember to start a wildfire that will get out of control quickly and be very difficult for our crews to control,” he said. Members of the public are being directed to the CheckItsAlright.nz website to confirm whether their area is in an open, restricted, or prohibited fire season, and to obtain safety guidance for residential and rural properties.
Hawke’s Bay is among the regions where fire danger is expected to rise quickly. From Jan. 9, temperatures above 30C, low rainfall, and periods of strong wind are forecast for Ahuriri Heretaunga, Central Hawke’s Bay, and Northern Tararua. Fire and Emergency New Zealand Hawke’s Bay district manager Tony Kelly said the mix of heat, wind, and low humidity can lead to rapid fire development. “These conditions create spike fire risk days. On these days, fires can start easily, grow rapidly, and become extremely difficult for our crews to control,” Kelly said. He said FENZ crews in the district have been briefed on the expected weather and are ready to respond, but he noted that reducing ignitions at source remains critical. “However, we are also urging the public to do their part to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading,” he said.
Most of Hawke’s Bay is already in a prohibited or restricted fire season, and FENZ is suspending all fire permits across the district. Kelly has asked property owners to minimise or delay spark‑producing work, recheck burn piles less than two months old, maintain short grass, remove dead vegetation and debris from around buildings, keep driveways clear to at least 4m x 4m for fire truck access, and ensure RAPID numbers are clearly visible to responders.
MetService has issued heat alerts for several centres as temperatures are forecast to climb further, adding to operational pressures on emergency services and drawing attention from insurers monitoring weather‑linked exposures. Alerts are in place for Whakatāne, Napier, Hastings, Motueka, Blenheim, and Kaikōura, where temperatures in the low to mid‑30s are expected. MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said alerts are issued when the forecast temperature exceeds the normal average for two consecutive days, with alerts generally published the day before the heat arrives.
Kawerau has been among the hottest locations, reaching 31.3C, while Tauranga and Masterton have recorded 28C and Te Puke 27.9C. “So really the Eastern North Island areas are the hottest at the moment,” said MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden, as reported by RNZ, noting that winds had mostly been light, with sea breezes building to around 20km/h. Hastings could reach about 37C over the weekend as air associated with an Australian heatwave moves across the east coast of New Zealand. The warmest conditions are expected around the East Cape, Gisborne, Wairoa, and Hastings.
The current fire weather is coinciding with planned industrial action by members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU). FENZ has notified the public that NZPFU members intend to undertake a one‑hour strike on Jan. 9, from 12pm to 1pm. During the strike period, volunteer brigades will respond to incidents in urban areas that are usually covered by career firefighters, and FENZ has warned of possible response delays. The agency has called on the union to cancel the strike in light of the current fire danger and the fact both parties are due to meet for facilitation later this month. For risk managers and insurers, the combination of higher fire danger and temporarily reduced professional firefighting capacity is likely to be a factor in discussions with clients on prevention measures, business continuity arrangements, and local emergency plans.
