The Tūpuna Maunga Authority will temporarily close all 14 Tūpuna Maunga during the Guy Fawkes period to help protect these culturally significant ancestral landscapes and surrounding communities from fireworks-related fires.
The closures will be in place from Sunday 2 November to Wednesday 5 November, with security personnel onsite and patrols continuing in the days following Guy Fawkes.
All 14 Tūpuna Maunga will be closed to the public between 6.30pm and 7.00am during this period. Fireworks remain prohibited on all Tūpuna Maunga at all times.
Many of the Tūpuna Maunga sit close to residential neighbourhoods, roads and public spaces. Preventing fires helps protect not only the Maunga themselves, but also nearby residents, visitors and emergency responders.
Keeping our maunga safe prevents fire from spreading and damaging the surrounding area.
The annual closures also help safeguard years of restoration and conservation work undertaken across the Maunga network. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority and Auckland Council have invested significant effort into native planting programmes, ecological restoration and caring for these treasured places. A single fire can destroy years of work in a matter of minutes.
This marks the seventh consecutive year of Guy Fawkes closures following significant fires on several Maunga, including Maungawhau / Mt Eden, Maungarei / Mt Wellington and Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain. The most recent fire occurred on Maungarei in January 2026.
Seasonal forecasts indicate El Niño conditions are expected to bring stronger and more frequent westerly winds, reduced rainfall and drier conditions across northern New Zealand during spring and early summer. These conditions can increase the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly, making fire prevention particularly important during the Guy Fawkes period.
Tūpuna Maunga Authority Co-Chair Paul Majurey says protecting the Maunga from preventable harm remains a key focus for the Authority.
"The Tūpuna Maunga are treasured places that hold deep cultural, historical and environmental significance for Auckland. We know how quickly fire can damage these special places, including native vegetation, restoration projects and archaeological features, which is why preventing fires before they start remains our priority."
Co-Chair Marama Royal says the closures reflect the Authority's responsibility as kaitiaki of the Maunga.
"Our Tūpuna Maunga are ancestral places that connect us to the history and identity of Tāmaki Makaurau. As kaitiaki, we have a responsibility to protect these taonga for future generations."
Visit the Tūpuna Maunga Authority website for more information.