Otago Federated Farmers president Richard Burdon, of Wanaka, said the removal of stock and land-use changes had allowed unchecked vegetation and wilding tree growth, increasing the fire risk to the point where he would not live in some areas around Queenstown Lakes.
Maniototo farmer Peter Hore holds the same concerns for Naseby, where he fears homeowners do not understand the fire risk posed by the tree-covered landscape.
"You only need to look at what happened in Australia."
Mr Burdon said the fire risk was being boosted by changes to land management, having fewer stock grazing land, the growth of wilding trees and a growing conservation estate combined with more people using the high country for recreation.
Mr Burdon said he was not criticising the Department of Conservation, as farmers were also changing land use, with fewer merino wethers being run.
Traditionally, farmers had used controlled fires in late winter or early spring to control vegetation, but the practice was now frowned upon by the public and resource consents were harder to obtain.
Mr Burdon said a consequence of not having controlled burns were fires similar to that at Kingston last year.
A fire which started on State Highway 6 burnt 740ha and took 11 helicopters, three diggers and more than 70 people to put out.
Mr Hore said the potential for a major catastrophe was real.
Dunedin City Council principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said regularly burnt high country farmland acted as a buffer to slow or stop fire, but it was more difficult for farmers to get fire permits, especially alongside conservation land.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand had few fires start by lightning strikes.
Most were controlled farm fires getting out of control or accidents by visitors.
Should a major fire start, it would be difficult to stop because of the heightened fuel-loading.
Queenstown Lakes district rural fire officer Gordon Bailey said farmers could need permission from four bodies for a controlled burn, an issue he raised recently with the Minister of Internal Affairs.
But despite that difficulty, many farmers successfully obtained a permit and met the requirements.
Department of Conservation Central Otago area manager Mike Tubbs said the department promoted responsible use and awareness to reduce the fire risk.
