November 12, 2025 • 7 mins
Julian Tohiariki of FENZ gives some reminders around lighting fires given the large piles of trees that are appearing after the recent weather events.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
The Sunny tour with a grace and all that.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Muster. Thanks for South and Rural
support trust and association with Community Trusts South. Once again
we're catching up with somebody involved in the rural sector
in wake of the winds that occurred three weeks ago.
Just talking about different ways of looking at situations through
different eyes in the Southern Farming fraternity and with all
(00:32):
things that associate themselves of farming. And today we're catching
up with Jillian to Hiaariki. Of course he is a
district manager for Fire and Emergency New Zealand down here
in the South. Just to talk about a few reminders.
Of course there'll be a lot of trees to be
burnt shortly, fire pyramids and the likes. What you need
to know, Julian's going to tell us, Jullian, welcome to
the Muster once again.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Hey, great to be back, any thanks for the invitation.
Always over my pleasure to jump on for a little
bit and pass on from hopefully some wisdom.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
There's always was to mate, I assure you of that,
especially around the situation from a fence perspective. I suppose
it's been a pretty hectic three weeks we've scene yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Hey, look obviously at the time of the winds and
that there was a very the cruise were busy all
over south and did an amazing job and luckily no
injuries to the public and to our people. But they
listen out of that though, what we're finding at the moment,
obviously there's a lot of tree down and there's a
lot of cleanup going on and fencing and piles of
burning and at the moment, as you as you know
where you don't know, were's still an open fire season,
(01:31):
but as where this starts changing over the next wee while,
we will most likely go to restrict it. But there's
some really key things around burning those piles. And I
think one of the key things you've got to remember
is where the piles situated on your property close to hedges, trees,
you know, is it up wind of some key infrastructure.
The size of the piles is really really important to Andy.
I think you know, when they get back, they're very
(01:53):
very hard to put out. So we're really encouraging our
farmers to make sure those poles in the middle of
the paddocks they've got some means of putting them out
or a digger that might be able to attract that
it can push them. Way, shall we put them out?
He think at the moment, Andy, I think it also
is that for our people out there checking the weather conditions,
like one day it's calm, beautiful day for burning, and
(02:14):
then we've got some galforce winds predicted that next day,
which theirs the fire up starts, then that into other places,
and then we get those escape birds really really important.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
As far as burning piles away from fence lines or
power lines of as such. Is there anything that needs
to be taken into account there regarding the law.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Well, hey, listen here there is. I mean, for the
burns out there, you get onto our site, our tickets
all right to light. We'll give some of our people
out there some really good far ways of burning and
distances from hedges, power lines, all that sort of stuff.
What we don't tend to recognize too, is you've got
state highways all down through south and roads that often
if the wind's blind, the one way goes across another
(02:54):
goes across the road, which is not a good signs,
particularly on State one or any of those roads. So
we got to think about those things. What is the
weather doing and where is it pushing? And have I
got a couple of days of free of winds that
I can actually safely burn without annoying everybody and worst
case scenario escape.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Now, as far as the changes when a restricted fire
season does come into fruition, what happens?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Hey, look well and look, it's really important to know
that those decisions aren't made likely. We have leven weather
stations around Southam and when the certain trigger points get
to those, we change into seasons. So it's not something
that I make Willie knowl you thinking all she's try.
It's based on science and of course I get in
contact with a lot of our farmers out there just
to see how things are on the ground. And what
we'll do then is I will end up we put
(03:38):
us much media for us, all different platforms, will trust
the Federated Farmers and all our locals. We try and
get that as quickly as we can to them to
say it's get into restricted or prohibited five season and
really important. We do that because we have to and
it's time to be doing that.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
So you'd say we're getting close to a restricted season already, Jillian,
or is it too early to tell.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
We've already the moment obviously, just depending on part of
South and Urina obviously put different parts are a lot
drier than others. So when we get to that sort
of tipping point where we're starting to look at those
season changes and that you know, last year, for example,
we didn't go into restrict it till after Christmas. This year,
they're protecting another hot, dry summer, so it could be
in it could be in December that we go to that,
(04:20):
just depending on what those triggers tell us in the condition.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Sorry, now regarding power lines, just to reiterate to farmers
or people or who we ever regarding them, what's some
key reminders that they need to remember just in general,
I suppose given the situation that's unfolded, Hey.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Look power lines, any fires around power lines are not
good any anyway too. And it's about where that the
smoke and those the travel and those power lines. We
all know that they can they can be very dangerous
in them one condition. So it's about the safety of
all our people out there with their brain and making
sure they're just there. They're they're away from those power
lines and you know, there's not going to be too
(04:57):
much of the smoke going on, because remember greens, which
is a lot of the stuff that's come out of
the wind events all very very green and creates a
lot of smoke and a lot of issues, you know,
for people around the place. So we prefer you're burning
the right stuff for the bruins very quickly and cleanly,
and the wet green stuff that's very very smoky.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
So you recommend people go to the chick It's all
Right website just to get a few of the finer
points I need to know.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Absolutely, and I really encourage all our burners out there
to be a bit more vigilant on what they're doing.
I don't know how many fires we go to every year.
I didn't realize that. I didn't know that. And some
of the stuff, you know, is quite basic and we
miss it because they want to get the burones out
of the way and get it done. So yeah, and
inebly it can go wrong.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
So the basic message around fire is simply prevention overcure.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, well, yes, I mean, I'm using five to clear
properties and things is a good thing, but we must
follow the conditions of when the permits come in. Of
those permits, and that's around distances and wind and all
that sort of side of it. And if we do
that mostly right and we remember, our fires can go
stay in the ground for quite some time ending. So
you know, all it takes is a pile that was
(06:09):
two weeks ago that the farms buried, and some big
high winds come up, lift the top soil of it,
and the she's away again. So it's just keeping a
really good vigilant eye on your fire when you line
it and potentially later on in extinguishing it properly.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Julian to Hiaiki, District manager for fans down here in
the South, thank you very much for your time on
the muster, and you guys have been you guys and
gals have been pretty busy lately as we our Congratulations
on all the work you've been doing and hopefully everybody
stays safe out there.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Thanks andie my.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Pleasure, Julian, and to Hiaiki out of Fens. Of course,
thanks to South and Reeral Support Trust and association with
Community Trusts South, we're bringing you these interviews over the
next couple of weeks here on the Muster. Our residence
sporting gury Nathan Braden.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Is up next.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Before we wrap up.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's that's what, that's till no
The Sunny tour with a grace and all that.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome back to the Muster. Thanks for South and Rural
support trust and association with Community Trusts South. Once again
we're catching up with somebody involved in the rural sector
in wake of the winds that occurred three weeks ago.
Just talking about different ways of looking at situations through
different eyes in the Southern Farming fraternity and with all
(00:32):
things that associate themselves of farming. And today we're catching
up with Jillian to Hiaariki. Of course he is a
district manager for Fire and Emergency New Zealand down here
in the South. Just to talk about a few reminders.
Of course there'll be a lot of trees to be
burnt shortly, fire pyramids and the likes. What you need
to know, Julian's going to tell us, Jullian, welcome to
the Muster once again.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Hey, great to be back, any thanks for the invitation.
Always over my pleasure to jump on for a little
bit and pass on from hopefully some wisdom.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
There's always was to mate, I assure you of that,
especially around the situation from a fence perspective. I suppose
it's been a pretty hectic three weeks we've scene yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Hey, look obviously at the time of the winds and
that there was a very the cruise were busy all
over south and did an amazing job and luckily no
injuries to the public and to our people. But they
listen out of that though, what we're finding at the moment,
obviously there's a lot of tree down and there's a
lot of cleanup going on and fencing and piles of
burning and at the moment, as you as you know
where you don't know, were's still an open fire season,
(01:31):
but as where this starts changing over the next wee while,
we will most likely go to restrict it. But there's
some really key things around burning those piles. And I
think one of the key things you've got to remember
is where the piles situated on your property close to hedges, trees,
you know, is it up wind of some key infrastructure.
The size of the piles is really really important to Andy.
I think you know, when they get back, they're very
(01:53):
very hard to put out. So we're really encouraging our
farmers to make sure those poles in the middle of
the paddocks they've got some means of putting them out
or a digger that might be able to attract that
it can push them. Way, shall we put them out?
He think at the moment, Andy, I think it also
is that for our people out there checking the weather conditions,
like one day it's calm, beautiful day for burning, and
(02:14):
then we've got some galforce winds predicted that next day,
which theirs the fire up starts, then that into other places,
and then we get those escape birds really really important.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
As far as burning piles away from fence lines or
power lines of as such. Is there anything that needs
to be taken into account there regarding the law.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Well, hey, listen here there is. I mean, for the
burns out there, you get onto our site, our tickets
all right to light. We'll give some of our people
out there some really good far ways of burning and
distances from hedges, power lines, all that sort of stuff.
What we don't tend to recognize too, is you've got
state highways all down through south and roads that often
if the wind's blind, the one way goes across another
(02:54):
goes across the road, which is not a good signs,
particularly on State one or any of those roads. So
we got to think about those things. What is the
weather doing and where is it pushing? And have I
got a couple of days of free of winds that
I can actually safely burn without annoying everybody and worst
case scenario escape.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Now, as far as the changes when a restricted fire
season does come into fruition, what happens?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Hey, look well and look, it's really important to know
that those decisions aren't made likely. We have leven weather
stations around Southam and when the certain trigger points get
to those, we change into seasons. So it's not something
that I make Willie knowl you thinking all she's try.
It's based on science and of course I get in
contact with a lot of our farmers out there just
to see how things are on the ground. And what
we'll do then is I will end up we put
(03:38):
us much media for us, all different platforms, will trust
the Federated Farmers and all our locals. We try and
get that as quickly as we can to them to
say it's get into restricted or prohibited five season and
really important. We do that because we have to and
it's time to be doing that.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
So you'd say we're getting close to a restricted season already, Jillian,
or is it too early to tell.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
We've already the moment obviously, just depending on part of
South and Urina obviously put different parts are a lot
drier than others. So when we get to that sort
of tipping point where we're starting to look at those
season changes and that you know, last year, for example,
we didn't go into restrict it till after Christmas. This year,
they're protecting another hot, dry summer, so it could be
in it could be in December that we go to that,
(04:20):
just depending on what those triggers tell us in the condition.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Sorry, now regarding power lines, just to reiterate to farmers
or people or who we ever regarding them, what's some
key reminders that they need to remember just in general,
I suppose given the situation that's unfolded, Hey.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Look power lines, any fires around power lines are not
good any anyway too. And it's about where that the
smoke and those the travel and those power lines. We
all know that they can they can be very dangerous
in them one condition. So it's about the safety of
all our people out there with their brain and making
sure they're just there. They're they're away from those power
lines and you know, there's not going to be too
(04:57):
much of the smoke going on, because remember greens, which
is a lot of the stuff that's come out of
the wind events all very very green and creates a
lot of smoke and a lot of issues, you know,
for people around the place. So we prefer you're burning
the right stuff for the bruins very quickly and cleanly,
and the wet green stuff that's very very smoky.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
So you recommend people go to the chick It's all
Right website just to get a few of the finer
points I need to know.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Absolutely, and I really encourage all our burners out there
to be a bit more vigilant on what they're doing.
I don't know how many fires we go to every year.
I didn't realize that. I didn't know that. And some
of the stuff, you know, is quite basic and we
miss it because they want to get the burones out
of the way and get it done. So yeah, and
inebly it can go wrong.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
So the basic message around fire is simply prevention overcure.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, well, yes, I mean, I'm using five to clear
properties and things is a good thing, but we must
follow the conditions of when the permits come in. Of
those permits, and that's around distances and wind and all
that sort of side of it. And if we do
that mostly right and we remember, our fires can go
stay in the ground for quite some time ending. So
you know, all it takes is a pile that was
(06:09):
two weeks ago that the farms buried, and some big
high winds come up, lift the top soil of it,
and the she's away again. So it's just keeping a
really good vigilant eye on your fire when you line
it and potentially later on in extinguishing it properly.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Julian to Hiaiki, District manager for fans down here in
the South, thank you very much for your time on
the muster, and you guys have been you guys and
gals have been pretty busy lately as we our Congratulations
on all the work you've been doing and hopefully everybody
stays safe out there.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Thanks andie my.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Pleasure, Julian, and to Hiaiki out of Fens. Of course,
thanks to South and Reeral Support Trust and association with
Community Trusts South, we're bringing you these interviews over the
next couple of weeks here on the Muster. Our residence
sporting gury Nathan Braden.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Is up next.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Before we wrap up.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
It's that's what, that's till no
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