IMPORTANT! - Fire restrictions came into effect yesterday (Friday 10th Jan).

A restricted fire season means no open air fires can be lit without a fire permit from Fire and Emergency NZ, these include burn piles, bonfires, camp fires, and land management fires.

You don’t need a fire permit for a charcoal BBQ or grill, cultural cooking fire (hāngī, umu or lovo) in a restricted fire season if you meet the following safety requirements:

- You must have a suitable way to extinguish it within easy reach.

- Don’t use on an apartment balcony, deck, under a roof overhang or within other enclosed areas.

- You must have a suitable way to extinguish the fire within easy reach – a maximum of 5 metres away.

- You must not leave unsupervised while burning.

- Your hāngī, umu or lovo must be less than 4 square metres in size.

- Your fire is not lit within 5 metres of a building, hedge or anything else that could catch fire.

- The fire must be extinguished once the stones or other material reaches the appropriate cooking temperature before you start cooking.

To apply for a permit visit, and to read more about fire safety tips and what you can and can't do during this restricted fire season, please visit www.checkitsalright.nz.

Stay safe, and help us help you.