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New Zealand: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026

From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 15,876 vegetation fires in this country.

Fires detected per year

Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.

Year by year data

2007 is the year with the most detections (1,062); the record month is March 2010, with 314.

The fire season is concentrated between February and April: these three months hold 49% of an average year's detections.

Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 33% (Aqua satellite).

The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 41.6 MW in 2003-2012 to 47.8 MW in 2016-2025.

In 2026 (to 15 October): 232 detections; from January to September, −60% against the average of the same months in 2003-2025.

Frequently asked questions

On average 654 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 1,062 in 2007.

Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 33% (Aqua satellite).

The fire season is concentrated between February and April: these three months hold 49% of an average year's detections.

2007, with 1,062 detections. The record month was March 2010, with 314.

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