Maraekakaho Rural Fire Brigade

13/03/2026

We don't have many stubble burns in Maraekakaho, but if you are looking at doing one (here or elsewhere), here's some useful advice to incorporate into your planning.

Planning a land management burn?

Check out these hot tips from us:

Always check whether it’s safe to light a fire and if you’ll need a fire permit at checkitsalright.nz

Once you’ve checked the fire danger using our tool, select notify us at www.Firepermit.nz or on 0800 336 922 (0800FENZCALL). This lets us know you have a planned burn in the area.

Plan your escape route. It’s important to have more than one way out.

Identify a safe zone that is clear of vegetation in case you can’t evacuate and need shelter in place.

For more information safe and effective land clearance and stubble burns have a look at https://www.checkitsalright.nz/reduce-your-risk/fire-for-land-management

07/01/2026

We lifted the fire risk to Very High yesterday. We’re expecting hot temperatures this weekend which coupled with the strong winds will create some significant fire risk. The fire forecasts show rates of spread and fire intensity becoming particularly elevated, which will make fires more difficult to contain if they start.

If you have had any burns in the last couple of months, check they are out (sometimes they come back to the surface), and avoid doing anything that will generate sparks.

We are still in a Total Fire ban. If you see smoke, call 111 ASAP and let us check it out. If you don’t know specifically where it is, just let us know the general area and we can work to narrow it down.

22/12/2025

We lifted the fire risk to High today, and remain in a total fire ban locally for open air fires and fireworks. We expect continued warm weather with wind through to at least Boxing Day. In conditions like this wildfires ignite more easily, spread more quickly, and take longer to put out.

These photo’s are from a fire near Sheridan which along with many others from around Hawke’s Bay, the Maraekakaho brigade was called out to last week. On Friday, a work day for all of us, we responded with seven firefighters for a 13 hour shift in some steep and fairly inaccessible country. Three of our crew followed up with more support on Sunday and Monday (fortunately we didn’t catch the overnight shifts). Considerable ground crew resource and expensive helicopter time are required to contain fires when we are in conditions like this - it's much easier to avoid fires like this starting or getting large.

We don’t want to be working on multi-day fires over Christmas and New Year’s - you can help us by;

1. Checking your old burn piles in case they have come to the surface. Locally we have attended three month old burn piles that have been bought back to the surface by hot dry weather and wind.

2. Avoiding any work in the heat of the day that might cause sparks - mowing in dry grass during the heat of the day is a common cause of ignitions.

3. Report any smoke that is causing you concern to 111 asap - the sooner we can get to it, the better the chance that we can catch it before it gets large. We're happy to check out reports of smoke, even if you don't know precisely where it is coming from (just say there is smoke in the vicinity).

22/12/2025

We lifted the fire risk to High today, and remain in a total fire ban for open air fires and fireworks. With conditions like this, fires ignite more easily, spread more quickly, and take longer to put out.

This video from is from a fire near Sheridan which the Maraekakaho brigade responded to last week, and helped resource on Sunday and Monday. Considerable ground crew resource and helicopter time was required to contain it - it's much easier to avoid fires like this than put them out.

Check your old burn piles in case they have come to the surface in the past month or two, avoid any work in the heat of the day that might cause sparks, and report any smoke that is causing you concern to 111 asap.

14/12/2025

We now have a total fire ban on open-air fires and fireworks (Maraekakaho is part of the Heretaunga area). If you have any questions about other types of fire (eg BBQ, pizza ovens, etc), go to https://www.checkitsalright.nz - if you enter the details, it will give you some advice (eg what conditions you need to follow in order to go ahead, or if a permit is required). If you see anything thing that concerns you, just give us a ring on 111 and ask for fire.

We are aware that there will like be some smoke (not from an open-air fire) this afternoon and on Tuesday, around Kereru Road between the village and the intersection with Aorangi and Mangatahi Roads. Firecom will be aware of the specifics.

14/11/2025

10/11/2025

Just a reminder that we are in a restricted fire season.

A restricted fire season means a permit is required from Fire and Emergency New Zealand to light a fire in the open air. To check the details, visit www.checkitsalright.nz, enter your address and select the type of fire you want to light, and follow the advice given.

If you see smoke, just call 111 and ask for Fire. The call taker will have access to all the permits that have been activated nearby, and they can make the decision on whether we need to come for a look (which is what we are here for, and which we are happy to do). As it gets drier (we're still in spring!), fires will develop faster and the earlier we know about them, the better.

03/11/2025

Much of the Hawke’s Bay District including Maraekakaho will move into a restricted fire season from Tuesday 4 November until further notice. A restricted fire season means a permit is required from Fire and Emergency New Zealand to light a fire in the open air. To check the details, visit www.checkitsalright.nz, enter your address and select the type of fire you want to light, and follow the advice given.

Community Risk Manager Nigel Hall says the area is experiencing warm, windy weather with little rainfall expected over the next month.

"Last month alone we saw 37 vegetation fires across the Hawke’s Bay District many escaping from old burn piles, driven by wind," he says.

"The slightest spark in windy and hot weather conditions can cause a fire that will spread very quickly in areas that are already extremely dry for this time of year.

"There are a lot of burn piles across the district that are the result of numerous storms over the last few years.

"If you’ve been burning vegetation any time in the last few months or so, check the fire is completely extinguished," he says. "Spread it out and extinguish completely with water.”

Given the length of time that old burn piles remain a risk (we have seen them reignite from underground 3-4 months after they have first burnt), as a community we should be avoiding lighting any more until autumn or winter when we have (hopefully) more significant rain.

03/11/2025

We would change this to “if it’s windy or DRY, don’t set off fireworks”!

This spring has definitely been a windy and warm one, with temperatures set to be distinctly summer-like this week. As you can see from the hills browning off, conditions have dried off.

We’d suggest for everyone’s benefit (including livestock and pets) that you avoid setting off fireworks around Maraekakaho this year.

Havelock North Primary School have a public display (as a fundraiser) on Friday night (7th) - a much better option! For more info, see https://hnps.school.nz/blast-in-the-park/

21/10/2025

If you’ve burnt any piles, rubbish, slash or similar in the last couple of months, can you please check that they are covered and cold (if they are not, rebury or extinguish with water). The wind yesterday may have bought old burns back to life closer to the surface, and we have more wind forecast for Thursday. Any problems, ring 111. (photo for context).

08/10/2025

It's been a warm, dry and windy spring so far. Please check any burn piles that you may have lit in the past 3-4 weeks, and don't light any new ones.

High fire danger levels are forecast for Friday to Monday around Napier, Hastings, parts of Central Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua Coast.

This is due to strong winds and lower than average soil moisture content for this time of year. That means that if a fire gets into a shelter belt or into a plantation of trees it could rapidly develop and spread.

Everyone – please do not light any outdoor fires anywhere for this period. That includes no fires please at the beach or by rivers.