The challenge
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.
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Approx. 3% of wildfires |
97% of wildfires are |
The approach
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.
In addition, our dynamic real-time messaging will inform and educate the public on their local fire conditions (fire danger and season) and what they need to do as a result. Triggered by our Fire Danger API and Fire Season API, our advertising targets those in areas of greatest risk (when the fire risk is high, very high or extreme, or when the season status is Restricted or Prohibited) in real-time, providing the information to help people reduce the risk of unwanted outdoor fires. Below is an example of our advertisements that will appear on digital outdoor billboards:
Social media
We encourage you to help spread our message further by re-sharing or posting our Facebook content on your district channels.
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)
Costs
The budget for the ‘Wildfire Readiness and Prevention’ campaign, live from October 2024 to May 2025, is approximately $736k. This includes both the production and media costs. As some of our channels are dynamic and will only deliver ads in specific locations when the fire danger is high, very high and extreme, the actual spend of the campaign will not be known until campaign end.