Gas-fuelled barbecues, outdoor heaters, fireplaces and portable cookers.

Safety requirements

• Check the fire danger and avoid lighting when the fire danger is Very High or Extreme.
• Regularly check and maintain any gas fittings and connections.
• Have a no-go zone to keep kids and pets safe.
• Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away.
• Do not leave your fire unsupervised while burning.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

Small, portable cooking devices fuelled by liquid; with an open fuel container under or within the device. Often used for smoking fish outdoors.

Safety requirements

• Set your fire up on a non-combustible area/base.
• Keep your fire at least 3 metres away from buildings, hedges or anything else that could catch fire.
• Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away.
• Do not leave your fire unsupervised while burning.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

A purpose-built or manufactured wood burning fireplace or wood oven with an open front and a vertical smoke vent/chimney.

Safety requirements

• Install a non-combustible hearth or base that extends a minimum of 500mm either side of the left and right edges AND a minimum of 1 metre from the front edge of the fire box.
• Ensure your vent/chimney has a purpose-built manufactured cap or 5mm of steel mesh fitted in the top to stop any hot ash or embers from escaping.
• Store firewood in areas unaffected by the fire's heat and away from potential hot ash or ember exposure.
• Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away.
• Use a solid or mesh screen/door to prevent burning material escaping the fire box, otherwise do not leave the fire unsupervised.
• Fireplaces with external steel construction should be at least 1 metre clear of any part of a building, hedge, shelter belt or any other combustible material.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

Cultural cooking fires are a traditional means of cooking over coals or hot stones (e.g. hangi, umu, lovo).

Safety requirements

• Your fire area must be less than 4 square metres in size.
• Don't set your fire up within 5 metres of a building, hedge or anything else that could catch fire.
• Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away.
• Do not leave your fire unsupervised while burning.
• The fire must be extinguished once the stones or other material reaches the appropriate cooking temperature, before you start cooking.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

Incinerators are a drum or container with a mesh lid to prevent the escape of hot ash or fire, designed exclusively for incineration.

Safety requirements

• Keep your fire at least 5 metres away from buildings, hedges or anything else that could catch fire.
• Have a suitable means to extinguish your fire within easy reach, a maximum of 5 metres away.
• Ensure your vent/chimney has a purpose-built manufactured cap or 5mm of steel mesh fitted in the top to stop any hot ash or embers from escaping.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

Bonfires are controlled outdoor fires used for recreation or celebration; such as Matariki.

Safety requirements

• You must comply with the conditions on your permit issued by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• If the fire is not on your own property, you must have the landowner’s permission.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

A controlled burn used to clear land, crop residue, logging slash and windrows.

Safety requirements

• You may have to complete a burn plan.
• You must comply with the conditions on your permit issued by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• If the fire is not on your own property, you must have the landowner’s permission.
• Call 111 immediately if your fire is out of control.

Public Conservation Land (PCL) is always in a restricted fire season, unless moving into a prohibited season in alignment with the surrounding land. This decision to move into or out of a prohibited fire season is made by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

• Authorised fire types on PCL in a restricted fire season [PDF, 159 KB](opens in a new tab)
• Authorised fire types on PCL in a prohibited fire season [PDF, 150 KB](opens in a new tab)

*Fire and Emergency will only grant permits while a prohibition is in force if that is necessary to prevent, reduce, or overcome any hazard to life or because of any other serious emergency.