Live fire map of New Zealand
Live fire map of New Zealand
Live wildfire map for New Zealand, updated continuously from NASA satellite hotspot detections. See where vegetation fires are burning right now, how intense they are, and the fire-danger level in each region — with a dedicated page for every significant fire and a day-by-day archive of the whole season. Click any region for its local fire map.
⚠️ The fires shown are automatic satellite heat detections from NASA FIRMS. They are not verified on the ground and are not 100% accurate — they can include false alarms (industrial heat, burn-offs) or miss small or cloud-covered fires. Do not use this map for safety decisions; always follow Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Significant fires
Recent days
What you can track here
Fires by region
Live wildfire tracking for all 16 regions of New Zealand, updated continuously — open a region for its fire map and fire-danger level:
| Regions | Active fires | Fire danger |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | 0 | — |
| Auckland | 0 | — |
| Waikato | 0 | — |
| Bay of Plenty | 0 | — |
| Gisborne | 0 | — |
| Hawke's Bay | 0 | — |
| Taranaki | 1 | — |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 0 | — |
| Wellington | 0 | — |
| Tasman | 0 | — |
| Nelson | 0 | — |
| Marlborough | 0 | — |
| West Coast | 0 | — |
| Canterbury | 0 | — |
| Otago | 1 | — |
| Southland | 0 | — |
Main towns covered: Whangārei · Kerikeri · Kaitāia · Auckland · Manukau · Waitākere · Hamilton · Taupō · Cambridge · Tauranga · Rotorua · Whakatāne · Gisborne · Napier · Hastings · Havelock North · New Plymouth · Hāwera · Stratford · Palmerston North · Whanganui · Levin · Wellington · Lower Hutt · Porirua · Richmond · Motueka · Tākaka · Nelson · Blenheim
About this fire map
Fire Map Today shows vegetation fires across New Zealand in one live view, built from NASA satellite heat detections and, where available, Fire and Emergency NZ information. Nearby detections of the same fire are grouped into a single fire event with its own page, and every day is archived so you can look back over the season. It republishes public data and is not an official warning service.
How this map works
Zoom out for the national picture; zoom in and the individual satellite detections appear. Fires are shaded by intensity and each region is coloured by its fire-danger level. Satellites pass several times a day and cannot see through thick cloud or smoke, so a real fire can be missed for hours and some heat sources are not wildfires — always check official sources.
Where the data comes from
Active-fire detections come from NASA FIRMS (VIIRS and MODIS sensors). Incident information comes from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) where available. The fire-danger level is a fire-weather index modelled from live weather (temperature, humidity and wind) via Open-Meteo — NIWA's Fire Weather System is the official reference. Region borders come from Stats NZ. In an emergency call 111 and follow Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) · NASA FIRMS
Staying safe near wildfires
If you are near an active fire, do not rely on this map for safety decisions — satellite detections can be delayed for hours by cloud, smoke or the timing of the satellite pass, and some heat sources are not wildfires. Always follow your official emergency service and local warnings, prepare an emergency plan, and leave early if you are in a high fire-danger area. This is a free public information service, not an emergency-alerting system.
Fire season in New Zealand
New Zealand’s fire season runs through the summer and early autumn, roughly December to March. The most exposed country is on the leeward, drought-prone side of the ranges: the east of the North Island, and Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago in the South. Gorse, cured pasture and dry tussock carry fire quickly, and the hot, gusty nor-wester can push a fire across open high country very fast. Fire seasons and restrictions are declared locally by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
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Highlighted months are the peak of the season.
| Area | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern North Island (Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay) | Dec–Mar | Drought-prone hill country and summer easterlies. |
| Marlborough and Nelson | Dec–Mar | The sunniest and driest districts in the country. |
| Canterbury and Otago | Dec–Mar | Dry tussock high country and the hot, gusty nor-west wind. |
Official fire agencies in New Zealand
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand — National fire service; declares fire seasons and issues fire permits
- checkitsalright.nz — Official fire season status and permit checker for any location
- Emergency services — Fire, police and ambulance Phone: 111
