All land east of state highway 25 from our Northern boundary at the Hikutaia River through to Paeroa

Fire Restrictions

Open Fire Season - currently in place

The restricted fire season that has been in force over the Hauraki District over the summer months has now been lifted and has been replaced with an open fire season. This means that fires in the open air are now allowed without the need for a permit to be issued.

There are however some areas in the Hauraki District that still require a permit to be issued for a fire in the open in effect part of our district have a restricted fire season all year round.

Those areas are as follows;

The peat dome on the Hauraki Plains █ (see map).

All land within 1 kilometre of Department of Conservation Land.

Summer Fire Season

The fire ban imposed over the summer season covers the eastern part of the Hauraki district (as described below) from approximately mid December until mid February the following year. During this time fires will only be allowed by permit. Public notices are made at the time of any fire season or when restrictions are imposed.

The summer covers all land east of State Highway 26 from our Northern boundary at the Hikutaia River through to Paeroa; all land east of State Highway 2 from Paeroa through Waihi to our Southern boundary at Athenree. █

The fire restrictions that are on the peat block on the Hauraki Plains █ remain all year round.

All land within 1 kilometre of Department of Conservation Land is also restricted all year round.

For permit issues and any enquiries please contact the Hauraki District Council.

Barbeques

Gas fired barbeques are not included in a fire ban.

Solid fuelled proprietary, solid fuelled permanent brick, concrete barbeques and fires in concrete or brick incinerators may be included in a fire ban if the fire risk is increased to an unacceptable level.

Should the conditions allow the use of the above mentioned fires then the following safety precautions must be adhered to:

Fires to be at least 5m from buildings, timber fences, trees or other combustible materials.
Fires not to be lit under strong wind conditions.
Pressure water system with hose to be available nearby.
Fires to be supervised by an adult.
Fires to be extinguished on completion.

Hangi Fires and Braziers

Hangi Fires require a fire permit during a fire ban season.

Braziers are classified as a fire in the ‘open air’ and as such their use is banned during a fire ban season.

Fire Permits

No permits will be issued for open fires during a fire ban.

Conditions of permits (when issued):

1.	Open air	“Open air“ means not in a fire place, incinerator, Barbeque, or other place, duly approved in each case.
2.	Wind etc	Do not light up in a strong wind, or in conditions likely to spread the fire or to present a fire hazard (includes an adverse long-range weather forecast). Check the forecast.
3.	Patrol	Patrol the fire until completely out or cannot spread
4.	Notice	Notify neighbours as directed – before lighting a controlled burn.
5.	Extreme hazard	Permits are Suspended by fire hazard emergency warnings or orders prohibiting all open air fires. Check radio or ring local authority. If fire is essential for an emergency (e.g. stock disease) a special permit would be required.
6.	Showing Permit	The permit must be produced on demand by a member of Police or Fire Officer.
7.	Damage	A permit is not a legal defence against claims for damage caused by the fire. The permit holder is always responsible for any damage caused by the fire and suppression costs may also be charged.
8.	Parks etc	Except where officially signposted otherwise, permits are needed at all times for open fires in National or maritime Parks, in specially protected sites, and in (including their fire safety margins of 1 kilometre) other state areas or forest areas.
9.	Escape	If the fire gets out of hand, try to extinguish it. Urgently notify the New Zealand Fire Service Commission or a Fire Officer. Ring 111.
10.	Offences	It is an offence to light an open air fire without the appropriate permit, or to break permit conditions or to let a fire spread to and injure a State area, forest area or specially protected property, or to leave it unprotected against such a spread.
11.	Joint Permits	Obtain further permits from soil conservation, Crown, or other statutory fire authorities who’s approval is required, if this is not a joint permit signed on their behalf
12.	Landholder	Separate consent by the landholder may be needed.
13.	Nuisance	No person shall burn, or permit or suffer to be burnt, any matter or thing in such a manner as to be offensive.
14.	Revocation	This permit is revocable upon notice at any time without prior warning.