$3.5m Boost to Restore Fire-Damaged Tongariro National Park

The Government has announced a $3.5 million investment to restore more than 3,000 hectares of Tongariro National Park devastated by two major fires last year, marking one of the most significant post-fire ecological recovery efforts in the central North Island in recent years.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the funding, drawn from the International Visitor Levy (IVL), will be delivered over five years and will focus on intensive weed control, pest management, biodiversity monitoring and long-term ecological resilience.

Protecting a Dual World Heritage Taonga

Tongariro National Park holds dual UNESCO World Heritage status for both its natural and cultural significance — a distinction shared by only a small number of sites globally. It is also a taonga of immense cultural importance and a central pillar of the Ruapehu District economy, supporting tourism operators, hospitality businesses and local employment.

"The fires have damaged biodiversity, disrupted recreation, and affected the livelihoods of families and businesses across Ruapehu District," Mr Potaka said.

The 3,000-plus hectares affected represent a substantial footprint within the park, which spans nearly 80,000 hectares. The burnt areas include alpine and subalpine ecosystems that are slow to regenerate and highly vulnerable to invasive species following disturbance.

International Visitor Levy Funding in Action

The $3.5 million investment will be funded through the IVL — a $35 charge paid by most international visitors entering New Zealand. The levy is designed to ensure that tourism revenue directly contributes to maintaining and enhancing the natural environments and infrastructure that visitors rely on.

"The IVL ensures visitor revenue goes back into maintaining and improving the places that support local jobs, businesses and communities," Mr Potaka said.

By spreading the investment over five years, the programme aims to provide sustained, science-based intervention rather than short-term recovery measures.

Science, Mātauranga Māori and Community Partnership

Restoration efforts are being delivered through Maunga Ora, a partnership initiative between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. The plan integrates ecological science with tikanga and mātauranga Māori, reflecting a holistic approach to restoring both biodiversity and the mauri — life force — of the landscape.

Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro are working alongside DOC staff and local contractors to carry out ground-level restoration, including:

• Targeted weed control to prevent invasive species from overtaking regenerating native vegetation

• Pest management, including deer control, to protect young plant growth

• Ongoing biodiversity monitoring to track ecosystem recovery

Without active intervention, post-fire landscapes can quickly become dominated by invasive weeds, which outcompete native species and alter long-term ecological trajectories.

"Recovery is already visible, with native plants pushing through the charred ground," Mr Potaka said. "But without sustained weed control and pest management, including managing deer, that regeneration will be at risk."

Safeguarding Biodiversity and Local Livelihoods

Tongariro National Park is home to rare and endemic species adapted to volcanic and alpine conditions. Fire events in such ecosystems can increase erosion risk, destabilise fragile soils and reduce habitat for native flora and fauna.

Beyond its environmental importance, the park plays a vital economic role in the Ruapehu District, where tourism linked to the maunga supports accommodation providers, guiding services, transport operators and hospitality businesses.

"The investment restores ecological resilience while backing the regional economy and people who depend on it," Mr Potaka said.

Long-Term Ecological Resilience

The restoration programme aims not only to repair fire damage but to strengthen the park's resilience against future climate-related events, which are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires.

By combining long-term funding, Indigenous leadership and science-based management, the initiative positions Tongariro as a model for integrated post-fire restoration across New Zealand's protected areas.

"I want to acknowledge the commitment of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, DOC staff and the wider Ruapehu community who have been working on the ground since the fires," Mr Potaka said. "Their partnership is critical to restoring the mauri of this sacred landscape."

"Tongariro is our taonga and restoring its mauri is essential. That's why the Government is working to secure its long-term future."