Taupō Fires

Rush-released, this Weekly Review special shows efforts to battle a Taupō forest fire which got out of control in February 1946. Scenes include an RNZAF plane flying the NFU cameraman over the flames, and a family readying to evacuate: “Where it is strongest, little can be done. Only rain can end it.” A drought and strong winds saw the fire spread across 250,000 acres, leap the Waikato River and threaten Taupō. Seen as a national disaster, the fire destroyed 30,000 acres of pine forest as NZ was rebuilding post World War II; it led to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1947.

As the plane comes in to collect our cameraman, flames are already sweeping along the windward side of the Taupō aerodrome.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Russell Reid

Editor, Writer

Rex Walden

Narrator

Roger Mirams

Camera