Whitireia Park reopening from Wednesday 17 January

The fire which broke out in Whitireia Park on 11 January has now been fully extinguished and the park will reopen to the public from Wednesday 17 January.  

The Onepoto Loop Track will be open, however we encourage people to visit during the early morning or late evening and take extra care near the burn site. 

We would like to thank Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and the New Zealand Police for their timely response. 

Ngāti Toa and the Whitireia Park Board have also played a substantial role in this response. Ngāti Toa delivered fresh kai to the first responders and aided with the manning of entrances to keep the crew and public safe. 

The Rapid Relief Team also provided a hot breakfast and lunch for the first responders.  

We’d like to acknowledge the individuals within Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) who were quick to respond and worked with partners to ensure the public remained safe. Last year specific readiness steps were put in place in high fire hazard areas, notably the inland ridge and track, as part of Whitireia Park Fire Mitigation Plan. The fire break along the ridge was doubled in width and the sides of the inland loop track were mown. These measures significantly slowed, and ultimately stopped the fire, limiting damage and providing safer areas for FENZ to extinguish the fire.  

Lastly, GW would like to thank members of the public for avoiding the area whilst crews were working hard to control and extinguish the site. 

The cause of this fire is under investigation. As the fire risk increases across the Wellington Region, further restrictions may be put in place. Follow our Facebook page or visit our website for updates. If you see smoke or fire, please call 111.