The massive vegetation fire near Queenstown has been contained and crews have been stood down.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) made the announcement on Thursday evening.
District Commander Blair Kiely said that after an assessment of the conditions on the ground this afternoon and the expected weather, the fireground was being handed back to the landowners to manage.
The exclusion zone for vessels near the Walter Peak shoreline has been lifted.
Earlier on Thursday Kiely said the blaze no longer posed a threat to the historic Walter Peak homestead after crews had made “significant progress”.
Kiely said crews, helped by cooler temperatures and overnight rain, had concentrated on extinguishing remaining hotspots and “strengthening containment lines around the fire edge”.
He said some areas might continue to smoulder over the next few days and people might notice smoke.
Flare-ups would be monitored and Fenz would respond if there were any indications that fire could spread outside the perimeter.
A further aerial inspection of the fireground would be made on Monday.
The highly visible fire had burned mainly tussock, scrub and some tree cover.
It had spread from Walter Peak Station along the McKinlays Creek area, and had also affected parts of adjoining conservation estate and Cecil Peak Station.
The blaze on Wednesday morning. Photo: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
No homes, buildings, or livestock had been lost as a result of the fire, Kiely said.
Crews had been working closely with landowners, the Department of Conservation and local iwi to identify and protect areas and values most at risk.
“While our priority has been to protect structures and livestock, we are very conscious of the environmental impact of vegetation fires,” he said.
Fenz investigators will undertake a formal investigation to determine the cause of the fire, in line with standard procedures.
“That will include any connection with the controlled burn undertaken on the Walter Peak High Country Farm on September 30.”
The fire continuing to burn on Tuesday night. Photo: Jo Smith
Kiely on Thursday night said the fire had burned an estimated 1350 hectares of land, mostly on Walter Peak Station, Cecil Peak Station and adjoining Conservation Estate.
Fenz earlier said the blaze had burned 1400ha of land.
Walter Peak High Country Farm and Walter Peak Station are separate properties, with different owners and management.
The fire burning on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Fire and Emergency NZ
Queenstown’s mayor John Glover said the blaze was “confronting”.
“It’s very large, very visible – and the fact that we haven’t been able to contain it is top of mind for everyone involved in the response.”
It was normal for high country stations in the area to have burns this time of year to renew land for spring – but these could get out of control, he said.
“It’s a real stark reminder of the fact that our hillsides can be dry and if we get a wild fire it can spread quite easily.”
– Allied Media