Overview
- About 2,500 hectares have burned with containment around 20% reported earlier on Sunday, according to RNZ.
- Rain and mist curbed the fire’s spread and halted aerial operations, with a fuller assessment planned once weather clears.
- Ground crews continued work while authorities prepared a standby fleet of 15 helicopters and five fixed‑wing aircraft to resume drops.
- Dozens of hikers were airlifted from Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts and some residents evacuated over the weekend, with no structural damage reported and key closures in place including the Tongariro Crossing and SH47.
- The cause is under investigation, and the Civil Defence minister said officials are treating the area as a crime scene.