Residents advised to take precautions to manage fire risk
Waimakariri residents are being warned to prepare for the fire season, with hot, dry days posing an increased fire risk over the summer months.
Waimakariri District Council and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) are urging residents to be aware of fire dangers, in spite of recent rain, as conditions can change rapidly.
Fenz principal rural fire officer Bruce Janes said it was very likely there would be fires in the district over the summer period, as seen in previous years.
"Don't be fooled by all the rain and cooler temperatures. All that moisture means lots of growth [and], when summer does decide to show, it will rapidly dry off and become a lot of available fuel for any wild fire that may come along," he said.
"When you're working on your property or in the garden, keep machinery well maintained to reduce potential sparks, and mow lawns in cooler conditions.
"You should also assess the risk of fire to your property and get rid of any shrubs, long grass or trees near your home which could burn easily. Having an escape plan for your family and pets is also vital."
The warning comes as scientists and academics caution that the 2017 Port Hills fires "could become the norm that New Zealand fire agencies have to deal with", and criticise agencies for paying "lip service to lessons learned".
The Fenz website (www.fireandemergency.nz) has important information about how to reduce fire risk.
Long grass or any other fire hazard can be reported to Fenz online at www.fireandemergency.nz....
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52.1% Human-centred experience and communication
-
15.1% Critical thinking
-
30% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
Loading…
