Open fire season to be monitored daily

For the first time in almost 30 years, the Nelson Tasman district has moved to an open fire season.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) made the move on 12 August with the duration of the open fire status to depend on climate and daily weather patterns, which directly influence the dryness of available fuel types.

An open fire season means people can light outdoor fires without a permit from Fire and Emergency. However, it is important to check local council’s rules and bylaws, a fire permit from FENZ may not be required, but be sure you’re not violating any council-imposed fire bans or smoke sensitivity regulations.

Tokongawa and Sandy Bay remain in a prohibited fire season (total fire ban), and St Arnaud will remain in a restricted fire season, meaning a fire permit is required due to the higher fire risk in these areas. All public conservation land remains in a restricted fire season, where a permit is required along with permission from the Department of Conservation.

Local fire weather conditions are monitored daily with weather data collected from a network of remote stations located across the district, feeding into the New Zealand Fire Danger Rating System. This system provides a fire weather index that assesses the flammability and availability of fuel and their effect on potential fire spread and intensity.

The shift to an open fire season follows the introduction of a new district fire plan for 2024–2027. In this plan, fire index thresholds were reviewed across all zones in the district, with a key finding being that imposing restrictions during periods of low fire risk was unnecessary and did not add value. The new plan offers greater flexibility to impose or remove controls on outdoor fires as conditions change.

Landowners and land managers have acted responsibly during restricted seasons for almost three decades, and it is asked that they continue to do so during the open fire season. While the current fire risk across most areas in Nelson Tasman is low, low risk does not mean no risk—commonsense and good practice are still essential.

FENZ strongly encourage checking the www.checkitsalright.nz website before lighting any fires outdoors. Not only does it provide useful advice, but it is also critical to ensure your area hasn’t changed fire seasons. With summer fast approaching, fuel types can dry out quickly, potentially leading to a return to restricted fire season with little notice.

As summer progresses and fire indices rise, there is a possibility of a district-wide prohibited fire season or total fire ban being implemented. These decisions are based on specific triggers and are not taken lightly.