National Headquarters
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
National Headquarters
Spark Central, Level 7
42-52 Willis Street
Wellington Central
Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 496 3600
24 July 2025
Ref: 18655
Harwood Wilson
[FYI request #31545 email] Tēnā koe Harwood
Thank you for your request of 10 July 2025, to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, requesting
information relating to rural fire lookout towers. Your request has been considered under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and we copy and respond to your questions below.
1. Do FENZ own or manage and rural fire lookout towers?
Fire and Emergency does not own or manage any rural lookout towers.
2. Do FENZ have any agreements or contracts with external agencies in relation to any part of
lookout towers? if so, who with?
Fire and Emergency does not operate lookout towers or maintain agreements with external
agencies in relation to their use.
3. Can FENZ provide the locations of any lookout towers that are still in operation? if so
please state how they are manned (i.e. remote sensing, volunteers, paid seasonal staff)
As far as Fire and Emergency are aware, the lookout tower at Richmond Hill in Nelson is currently
the last operational forestry tower. It is only staffed by contracted personnel for local forestry
companies during periods of extreme forest fire danger. We understand the forestry companies
are exploring the installation of surveillance cameras as an alternative to having personnel
physically stationed in the tower.
4. Furthermore can you please advise on Rural Fire Detection Systems, such as Attentis:
What regions are these in place and working with FENZ?
Attentis is provided by Spark New Zealand and is one of two fire detection systems currently
available in New Zealand, alongside Dryad (Silvanet). Attentis systems are currently in place in the
Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District, and Queenstown Lakes Districts mostly around
recreation areas.
5. Of the regions that do have this technology, who owns the sensors? i.e. Council / Forest
Company etc.
The sensors are either owned by the Council or are leased by the Council from the supplier.
We trust that the information being provided is of assistance. If you require further information,
please email [FENZ request email]
Please note that because of the identified public interest in the information that you have
requested, we intend to publish this response (with your personal details removed) on our
website.
Nāku noa, nā
Aidan Saunders
Manager, Information Requests
