The Tūpuna Maunga Authority acknowledges and thanks the people of Tāmaki Makaurau for their continued support in protecting the Tūpuna Maunga during the 2025 Guy Fawkes season.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that the Maunga have been closed to the public during Guy Fawkes (2–5 November), following serious fire incidents in 2019 and 2020 caused by unlawful fireworks at Maungarei / Mt Wellington and Maungawhau / Mt Eden.

Chair of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, Paul Majurey, says:

“We are grateful for the ongoing public support for the closures. The community continues to show strong understanding of the need to protect the Maunga from the very real risk of fireworks-related fires. This reinforces the Authority’s stance that the public sale of fireworks should be banned.”

He adds:

“The preventative measures we’ve put in place over the past six years, including temporary closures and increased security, have proven to be a necessary and effective investment in protecting the Maunga. These efforts have significantly reduced the risk of non-intentional fires and helped preserve the integrity of these sacred spaces for future generations.”

Across the 14 Tūpuna Maunga, hundreds of people were engaged with by our security teams, with the vast majority expressing support for the closures. Many thanked our staff for their mahi and acknowledged the importance of protecting the Maunga.

While public engagement was overwhelmingly positive with our teams, there were still around a dozen incidents that caused concern. Some members of the public aimed fireworks at our security staff and at property — putting lives at

risk. There were also cases of drunken behaviour that made situations worse, and individuals who blatantly ignored instructions to stay off the Maunga. One serious incident involved a deliberately lit fire, while quickly contained by our vigilant staff, required Fire and Emergency New Zealand and NZ Police to be called to the scene.

The Authority reiterates that our security guards — and all those working to protect the Maunga — are people, many with families and children of their own. Every Guy Fawkes season, the team diligently safeguard these sacred spaces, and this year was no exception. Our people are doing a tough job under challenging conditions to protect the Maunga, and to keep people and property safe. We ask the public to show kindness and respect to these frontline workers.

Although the Maunga have now reopened (6–11 November), the Authority will maintain an increased security presence to continue monitoring for any post-Guy Fawkes risks.

For more information about the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, visit www.maunga.nz.

Notes:

In 2014 a Treaty of Waitangi settlement was passed, transferring ownership of fourteen Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) to the Mana Whenua tribes of Auckland and enabling the establishment of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.

The Authority is a co-governance body with six iwi representatives, six Auckland Council representatives and one non-voting Crown representative. The Authority is independent of the Council and has decision-making powers and functions.

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