Overview
- The blaze has scorched roughly 2,500 to nearly 3,000 hectares and remains only partially contained at about 20%, according to fire officials.
- Showers slowed the fire’s spread, but fog and low cloud grounded helicopters and planes, with forecasters flagging possible thunderstorms later Monday.
- Hikers were airlifted from huts over the weekend and Whakapapa Village was evacuated, with authorities later allowing residents to return as conditions improved.
- The Department of Conservation closed the Tongariro Crossing and nearby areas, and local tourism operators report cancellations and uncertainty over reopening timelines.
- Investigators are treating the origin as a crime scene while assessing cause, and authorities report no structural losses despite extensive ground and aerial firefighting efforts.