A study conducted by University of Canterbury students in collaboration with Fire and Emergency New Zealand has explored how hedgerows and shelterbelts affect the spread of wildfires.
The research, undertaken in the wildfire-prone Canterbury region, aims to provide strategies to reduce risks to rural homes.
The project was led by George Hamilton, a student who was personally affected by a wildfire during his childhood.
Hamilton and his team spent three months mapping hedgerows in Canterbury and analysing their impact on fire behaviour. The goal was to identify patterns and characteristics that could inform future fire management practices.
Hamilton recounted an incident where his neighbour’s home was destroyed by a wildfire fuelled by hedgerows.
“I sort of watched it happening as the fire spread down from the foothills jumping across hedgerows and paddocks and eventually burnt itself down. That experience stayed with me and motivated my interest in this topic,” he said, as reported by RNZ.
The team’s findings indicated that pine hedgerows posed a significant fire hazard due to their flammability, while native species with low-flammability properties could help mitigate risks.
Hamilton added that placing hedgerows further from buildings could further reduce fire impacts.
Hamilton emphasised the need for additional resources and technology to expand the research to other regions or even internationally.
“We looked at our research limitations and found that with more skills, time, and technology we could enable more precise differentiation of hedgerows from other vegetation and structures,” he said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand wildfire scientist Grant Pearce highlighted the value of student-led research.
“Those student projects are a great way to initiate new areas of research for organisations like ours. The students are up to date with the latest innovations and methodologies so they can offer a view that we may not otherwise think of ourselves,” he said, as reported by RNZ.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has advised rural property owners to reduce fire risks by removing dry vegetation and choosing less flammable plants for landscaping near homes. Pearce added that Canterbury’s dry conditions make fire prevention efforts even more critical.
A restricted fire season is now in effect across Auckland as Fire and Emergency New Zealand responds to ongoing dry weather and heightened fire risks.
The restrictions, effective from Thursday last week, require permits for outdoor fires and cover the Waitematā, Auckland City, and Counties Manukau areas.
Te Hiku regional manager Ron Devlin said the decision was driven by the risk of fires spreading quickly due to dry vegetation.
“While there is some rain forecast next week, this isn’t going to be enough to counter the effects of the recent warm, dry weather,” he said, adding that fire-prone vegetation – including mānuka, kānuka, and dry grass – poses particular challenges.
The Hauraki Gulf Islands remain under a prohibited fire season, where all outdoor fires are banned. Fire and Emergency New Zealand has urged residents to check regulations and follow safety guidelines before lighting fires.