A fire that has burned through 80ha of scrub and swampland in North Waikato is now spreading through a wetland of “environmental significance”. 

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze off Island Block Rd near Meremere about 1.15pm on Monday. 

Incident commander Shane Bromley said in an update this morning the fire front was now 5km wide and had burned through about 80ha. 

Six helicopters supported by ground crews filling monsoon buckets were fighting the fire this morning. 

The fire was not yet controlled and was spreading through Whangamarino Wetland, a Department of Conservation (DoC) area of environmental significance, Bromley said. 

Fire investigators were on the ground today, but the origin and cause of the fire had not been confirmed. 

The fire appeared to have started on private land before spreading, and Fire and Emergency had placed fire trucks at three homes as a precaution. The ground and air response to the scrub fire was stood down overnight on Monday. 

“Houses along Island Block Rd are no longer threatened.” 

Bromley said on Monday four fire trucks, five tankers and several helicopters had responded to the fire and they were also working to protect the nearby Whangamarino Wetland. 

On a private community page, nearby residents posted seeing a “gigantic fire” over Island Block Rd. 

About 4pm, another neighbour said it didn’t look like the fire was under control yet. 

The area around Island Block Rd has a low fire danger rating, according to the Fenz website. At present, the lighting of fires in the area is allowed without a permit. 

Police said Fenz had notified them about the fire about 2.40pm, but police assistance was not required. 

DoC said staff were aware of the fire. 

“The fire appears to have started on private land, but has now moved to Conservation land.” 

“Fenz are responsible for the fire management, but we are providing support and advice re conservation values of the wetland. 

According to DoC’s website, Whangamarino Wetland is a 7000ha mosaic of swamps, fens and peat bogs. 

More to come. 

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne. 

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.