The threat of wildfires in Northland
What you lose in a wildfire
Numbers, causes and costs of wildfires
What you lose in a wildfire
Everyone in a wildfire loses. The person found responsible will lose money directly. Everyone else loses money because of the cost to the Department of Conservation (through the taxes you pay) and to councils (through your rates). Other things you need these organizations to do for you get put aside to fight the fire. Land you own (public conservation land) and the plants and animals that live on it are destroyed - literally gone up in smoke.
You're losing your inheritance
Northland fire fighters hold a dead Little
blue penguin and a burnt kiwi egg - the
victims of a fire on Motukawanui Island
The death of a few native birds or skinks and burned trees might not seem very important to you. The point is, they're someone else's taonga, they belong to all New Zealanders - and they're your childrens' inheritance.
Wildfires in Northland have killed whole populations of animals and plants people have spent years trying to protect.
Kiwi, kukupa, fern birds and hundreds of skinks and geckos have died horribly trying to escape the smoke and flames. Often they're burnt alive.
Rata, pohutukawa, orchids, flaxes and kauri are among the plants burned to the ground. It takes generations for some to grow to full size, but only minutes to kill them.
Numbers, causes and costs of wildfires
These diagrams show the numbers, causes and costs of wildfires in Northland from 2005 - 2010 (courtesy of R Goldring, NZ Rural Fire Authority).
Northland fire causes 2005 - 2010
Arson was the most common cause of
fires (45%) (view larger, JPG, 14K)
|
Cause
|
Total
|
|
Arson
|
38
|
|
Cigarette
|
1
|
|
Fireworks
|
4
|
|
Landclearing
|
1
|
|
Non Permit Fire
|
32
|
|
Powerline
|
1
|
|
Roadworks
|
1
|
|
Unknown
|
3
|
|
Vehicle
|
4
|
|
Grand Total
|
85
|
Cost of fires in Northland 2005 - 2010
At $ 5.3 million, arson was the highest
cost (view larger, JPG, 19K)
|
Cause
|
Total
|
|
Arson
|
5,300,442.96
|
|
Cigarette
|
21,970.99
|
|
Landclearing
|
27,125.64
|
|
Non Permit Fire
|
895,572.34
|
|
Powerline
|
231,317.27
|
|
Roadworks
|
9.493.75
|
|
Unknown
|
178.509.64
|
|
Vehicle
|
483.692.23
|
|
Fireworks
|
84.727.16
|
|
Total
|
7.232.851.98
|
All suspicious fires in Northland are investigated. This involves fire investigators and the NZ Police.
Wildfires start in a moment and take a lifetime to pay for.
Don't let this be your fault. Help rural fire organizations reduce wildfires in Northland.
back to top