The Department of Conservation has been accused of mismanging and neglecting land at Lake Ohau, where fires have been raging.
At least 50 structures have been deemed uninhabitable.
Farmers who live near Lake Ohau say they've been warning DOC and the government for years about the imminent danger of fire.
They say wild tussock and pine have been left to grow out of control, but the Conservation Minister has hit back.
Sally Murphy filed this report.