No charges will be laid against the owner of a burn pile that sparked large fires and destroyed four homes in Kaikōura last month.
A total of 33 structures were destroyed in the fires.
Fire and Emergency NZ says the fires were caused by embers from the burn pile that were spread by high winds.
The fires spread over an area of almost 200 hectares.
The fires spread over an area of almost 200 hectares. Photo: RNZ
Almost 200 volunteer firefighters worked over six days to extinguish the fires amid winds of 150 kilometres an hour.
A Fenz spokesperson said it will not pursue a prosecution because it was an open fire season when the blaze began.
