On 12 August, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) announced a relaxation of their fire permit system, moving Nelson and Tasman Districts into open fire season for the first time in almost 30 years.
An open fire season means people can light outdoor fires without a permit approved by FENZ. However, Tokongawa and Sandy Bay will remain in a prohibited fire season, and St Arnaud will remain in a restricted fire season, which still requires a fire permit.
While the announcement is great news for those who want to light an outdoor fire, it is important to make sure your fire will comply with the Tasman Resource Management Plan’s discharge to air rules.
There’s heaps of information to be found on the outdoor burning page on our website(external link).
Following these tips and land management practices when burning vegetation from garden waste will help to minimise your contribution to air pollution:
- In the simplest terms – where outdoor burning is allowed, every effort must be made to minimise smoke and reduce the frequency and number of fires as much as possible.
- Try not to burn in the evenings or during the weekends to avoid smoke nuisance and upsetting your neighbours.
- Check the weather conditions, wind speed and direction, and continue to check throughout the burn – wind speeds of 10 – 25km/hr are ideal.
- Burn well-seasoned, dry vegetation only and don’t leave a fire to smoulder overnight – restart fires the next day.