A New York billionaire’s controversial New Year’s Eve pyrotechnic bonanza at his Central Otago retreat is believed to have caused a large rural fire.
Neighbours say the blaze in Dalefield, between Queenstown and Arrowtown, was on a property linked to Empire State Realty Trust chief executive and president Tony Malkin, who in 2014 took Prince William on a tour of the Empire State Building.
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said the blaze involved three separate fires burning in tussock on steep terrain. It was contained by about 2.30am and burnt an estimated 1.2ha of land.
Fire crews had knocked out hotspots and were monitoring the situation on Sunday morning, the spokesperson said.
Property manager Donna Stewart-Freemantle declined to comment on the specifics of the fire.
“We are deeply grateful for the expert work of Fire Emergency New Zealand and the police,” she said.
Angry neighbours to the Dalefield property started a petition against the legal fireworks display due to concerns of the impact it would have on horses and other animals in the area.
It was signed by more than 600 people.
Neighbour Daniela Schneider said she left the area with her horse at about 11.45pm and returned after the fireworks to see the fire.
“We waited until 2.30am and then thought it was safe to go to sleep,” she said.
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Commonsense should have meant the fire was not permitted in the rural area, she said.
“Hopefully it was just a one-off.”
A previous statement released to local new organisation Crux Media before Christmas said the property owners offered financial assistance to move local animals.
“We are private people who have owned our property for nearly 20 years.”
The statement said the owners had deep social and charitable connections in the area.
“We will happily consider any reasonable request from our immediate neighbours for financial assistance to move their livestock.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience,” it said.
This story originally appeared on Stuff and has been reproduced with permission.
