The New Zealand Government will spend $3.5 million to restore parts of Tongariro National Park after major fires at the end of 2025.
This money will be funded by the International Visitor Levy.
Around 3,000 hectares of the park were damaged in two separate fires. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said Tongariro is a taonga and that restoring its mauri is important. He also said the park is a Dual World Heritage site and a key part of the Ruapehu District economy.
The fires harmed native wildlife and plants, disrupted outdoor activities, and affected local families and businesses. The funding will be used over five years. It will pay for weed control, pest management, and monitoring of biodiversity. Potaka said new native plants are already growing through the burnt ground. But he warned that without ongoing weed and pest control, regrowth could be threatened.
After the first fire, a ten-year restorative rāhui was placed over the burned area. In November, the Department of Conservation said people could still walk on tracks. DOC explained the rāhui is not meant to keep people out, but to support the spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing of Tongariro. A Maunga Ora programme run by DOC and Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro will guide the recovery using science, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge).
