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The beginning of a bush burn, by Frederick Hargreaves, Ashby, ca. 1900-1920. Alexander Turnbull Library. 1/1-023274-G
The beginning of a bush burn, by Frederick Hargreaves, Ashby, ca. 1900-1920. Alexander Turnbull Library. 1/1-023274-G

Description

In an effort to create farmland, large tracts of our native forests were cut or burnt down. While bush burning effectively cleared the land it was a dangerous practice, and one that had a disastrous impact on our native species. Fires could rapidly spread out of control and burn down buildings or in some cases whole towns like Raetihi in 1918. In 1860 the newspaper Evening Post reported large bush fires in Porirua and Greytown. The paper also noted that a bridge and the Episcopal Church in Johnsonville were burnt down while in Karori, “the Lunatic Asylum was at one time in danger, but by turning out the inmates to pour water on the roof, it survived.”

Discussion

Why would bush fires not be a problem in Porirua and Karori today?
 

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