Fire restrictions lifted in Canterbury

27 January 2026

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is moving the entire Canterbury District back into an open fire season as of 8am Tuesday 27 January 2026.

The Canterbury District covers from Kekerengu down to the Rakaia River and includes the foothills, hill and high country and finally Bank Peninsula.

An open fire season means fires can be lit without a permit, as long as people use common sense and follow fire safety guidelines, which can be found on www.checkitsalright.nz.

Canterbury District Commander Dave Stackhouse says the District has seen enough rain recently that restrictions on open-air fires are no longer required.

"We’ve received significant rain in the last few weeks, which means the fire danger has reduced."

Dave Stackhouse would like to thank the community for following the fire restrictions during the period when Canterbury was at high risk for fires.

"The conditions can change quickly, so if you’re planning on lighting a fire, remember to continue going to www.checkitsalright.nz to check if it’s safe to light."