Drone and artificial intelligence technology is helping regeneration efforts in Tongariro National Park following two fires that burned 3000 hectares of tussock grassland and regenerating alpine scrub in the Mangatepopo Valley. The initial, most damaging fire flared a year ago after a vehicle lost its rear wheel in November, closing the Tongariro Crossing track for more than a week, while a second blaze sparked from a broken axle in December caused further damage.
Following the blazes, the government announced $3.5 million of funding for recovery work, enabling the Department of Conservation (DOC) to explore new technologies. DOC is working with Rotorua-based company Interpine to locate invasive plants such as gorse, broom, and wilding conifers. Interpine deploys drones to photograph the terrain and applies an AI platform to identify the plants, providing DOC and contractors with exact pinpoints to target rather than requiring helicopter searches over wide areas.
Interpine chief technology officer Dave Herries, whose team previously used drones to spot active fire hotspots, said the company has conducted three large aerial surveys of the fire zone and plans another in December to track changes. DOC principal ranger Dan Van Der Lubbe noted that natural regrowth of red tussock and flax is now visible after one year. A 10-year restorative rāhui established by Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro remains in effect on the damaged land to help stop the spread of invasive weeds and allow the ecosystem to recover naturally.
