The Invercargill District Court has sentenced two individuals for offences under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017. The offences related to a fire lit in the Awarua Wetlands in Southland on 2 April 2022 during a prohibited fire season where a total fire ban was in place.

One offender was sentenced in relation to two offences under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act relating to lighting a fire in a prohibited fire season and allowing a fire to get out of control and spread. The offender was sentenced to 7 months’ home detention with post-detention conditions, and to pay reparation of $10,000.

Another offender was sentenced in relation to an offence under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act relating to allowing a fire to get out of control and spread. The offender was sentenced to 200 hours community work and 12 months’ supervision, and to pay reparation of $10,000.

The fire burned through 1,330 hectares of wetlands and had severe environmental and financial consequences, in an internationally recognised conservation area.

This outcome supports Fire and Emergency’s efforts in upholding fire season requirements to reduce risk to our communities, our people and the environment. Compliance with fire safety regulations is essential, particularly in areas under a prohibited or restricted fire season where lighting fires in the open air is not permitted. While most individuals adhere to these requirements, clear breaches of fire safety legislation carry penalties.

This is our second prosecution under the Fire and Emergency Act 2017. In June 2023, an individual in Southland was fined $18,000(external link) for an unauthorised burn off.

While our primary focus is on reducing risk through education and targeting unwanted behaviour, Fire and Emergency will escalate to enforcement activity where appropriate.

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