The risk and impact of wildfire is increasing in Aotearoa New Zealand due to climate change, but also how and where we are living.. The frequency of wildfires and number of significant wildfires are on the rise in Aotearoa New Zealand – with many happening in the shoulder months rather than the typical higher risk summer period. 

Large wildfires like the 2017 Port Hills, 2019 Tasman, 2020 Lake Ōhau, 2021/2022 Waiharara fires are occurring every 1-2 years, resulting in significant impact and losses. In addition, many of these significant wildfires are happening in the shoulder months rather than the typical summer period.

Our ‘Spot the Signs, Stop Wildfire’ campaign encourages the public, especially land managers and domestic tourists, to learn how to spot potential fire danger. 

Universally understood as a system for highlighting dangers and threats, the ‘signage’ visual technique is already well-used in Fire and Emergency’s public communications such as the current wildfire danger half-grapefruit signs across the motu and other fire safety campaigns. The campaign has been tested with our key audiences – farmers and lifestyle block owners - and will be continuously tracked via Fire and Emergency’s quarterly tracker to understand the effect it’s having on audience attitudes and behaviours. 

The campaign features a series of images showing risky actions with a set of physical signs pointing to the risk. The current messages focus on risk around mowing, vehicles in dry grass and use of gas cookers. These activities / fire types are relevant all season - even in a prohibited fire season. These creative executions will be run on truck backs, outdoor billboards, and street posters, plus TVNZ ad-on-pause, social media, print and across national radio (there are four ads playing).The use of signs has also been introduced across our digital programmatic advertising that triggers based on the current Fire Season and when the local Fire Danger level is High, Very High or Extreme. Here, we have brought in specific messaging related to lighting fires and extinguishing of burn piles that will only be triggered where Districts are in Open or Restricted Fire Season, and another set of messages that will trigger where areas are in Prohibited Fire Season. Below is an example of our advertisements that will appear on digital outdoor billboards:

We encourage you to help spread our message further by re-sharing or posting our Facebook content on your district channels.

Download Gas cooker Meta 1x1 [JPG, 1.3 MB]	Download Gas cooker Meta 9x16 [JPG, 2.1 MB]
Download Mower Meta 1x1 [JPG, 1.4 MB]	Download Mower Meta 9x16 [JPG, 2.3 MB]
Download Ute Meta 1x1 [JPG, 1.5 MB]	Download Ute Meta 9x16 [JPG, 2.3 MB]

Key messages:

• Avoid using machinery in hot, dry and/or windy weather or when the Fire Danger is Very High or Extreme.
• Avoid using any vehicles off road or near dry vegetation in hot, dry and/or windy weather or when the Fire Danger is Very High or Extreme.
• Always set up your gas cooker on a stable surface and will away from anything flammable – like long dry grass.
• Spot the signs, stop wildfire.
• Know the risks and always check the local fire danger at checkitsalright.nz(external link)