Up to 100km per hour winds are predicted today at the Awarua/Waituna wetlands, scene of a massive 1000 hectare fire that started on Saturday (2 April).

Around 30 firefighters are back on the ground today, although all helicopters have been grounded due to the challenging conditions.

The fire did not spread overnight and there was 30mm of rainfall.

Incident Controller Mark Mawhinney says we will be monitoring the situation closely.

Fire and Emergency is working closely with Ngāi Tahu and DOC on the ongoing management of the fire.

Awarua/Waituna Wetlands are culturally significant for Te Rūnaka o Awarua who are mana whenua. For hundreds of years, their ancestors carried out mahika kai (food gathering) practices around Awarua/Waituna, and lived on the whenua (land). Many of their tīpuna (ancestors) are buried in wāhi tapu sites around Awarua/Waituna. The wetland is also habitat for taonga bird and fish species.

WATCH VIDEO OF AWARUA FIRE AREA THIS MORNING