The New Zealand Government has committed $3.5 million over five years to restore more than 3,000 hectares of Tongariro National Park damaged by two major fires last year. Announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, the funding will support ecological recovery efforts in one of the country’s most significant natural and cultural landscapes.
Tongariro National Park is a Dual World Heritage site and holds deep cultural importance as a taonga. The fires caused significant harm to biodiversity, disrupted recreational access, and affected families and businesses across the Ruapehu District that rely on tourism and conservation-related activity. The new investment is drawn from New Zealand’s International Visitor Levy, which directs visitor-generated revenue back into maintaining and enhancing key destinations.
The funding will be used for weed control, pest management, biodiversity monitoring, and the management of invasive species such as deer that threaten regenerating native vegetation. Sustained intervention is considered essential to protect early signs of natural regeneration and ensure long-term ecological resilience.
Restoration efforts are being delivered in partnership with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro and the Department of Conservation (DOC) through the Maunga Ora restoration plan. The initiative integrates scientific approaches with tikanga and mātauranga Māori, reflecting a commitment to restoring both the ecological health and the cultural mauri of the landscape.
The Government says the investment will not only strengthen environmental recovery but also support the regional economy by safeguarding a cornerstone of tourism and community wellbeing in the Ruapehu District.
