Outdoor burning

(RP Rule C.7.1.1 – Permitted Activity)

You may burn outdoors if you can meet all of the following conditions.

What you’re allowed to burn:

• Untreated wood
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Vegetative matter (e.g., prunings, branches, garden waste)
• Animal carcasses and offal only if the property is production land.

Where the burning takes place

Residential homes, whare, or farms can undertake outdoor burning on properties of any size if they are outside the Whangārei Airshed.

Industrial or trade premises must not burn unless:

• The burning is in an incineration device, and
• Only untreated wood, paper, cardboard, or vegetative material generated on-site is burned.

This includes property where industrial or trade activities are taking place, and the burning is related to that activity. Examples are burning construction waste on a building site or burning unwanted packing pallets from incoming products.

Effects beyond the boundary

The burning must not produce:

• Noxious or dangerous smoke or contaminants
• Offensive or objectionable odour, smoke, or dust that goes beyond your property boundary or in the coastal marine area.

If the burn will last more than 24 hours

If you are anticipating the burning will last more than a day, then smoke-sensitive areas such as houses, schools, hospitals, workplaces must be notified in advance.

You must notify the affected neighbour:

• No less than 24 hours and no more than 2 weeks before burning.
• The notification must be in writing (email allowed).
• It must include: 
  • Fire supervisor’s name and phone number
  • Materials to be burned
  • Start time (general)
  • Estimated duration

(RP Rule C.7.1.2 – Permitted Activity)

If your property is located inside the Whangārei Airshed, the rules are stricter. You may only burn outdoors if you meet all of the following:

Property size

• Burning is only permitted on properties larger than 1 hectare, unless an exception applies (see below).

What you’re allowed to burn

• Untreated wood
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Vegetative matter

Seasonal restrictions

• No burning in June, July or August.

The burning must not produce:

• Noxious or dangerous smoke or contaminants
• Offensive or objectionable odour, smoke, or dust that goes beyond your property boundary or in the coastal marine area.

Burning rubbish, or any non-permitted materials such as plastic, tyres, metal, painted timber and demolition waste – including the use of fuel ignition – is not allowed anywhere in Northland without a resource consent. 

Northland Regional Council compliance officers investigate burning incidents reported to our Environmental Hotline. If we obtain evidence that demonstrates unlawful burning activities, the Council may decide to take enforcement action against the person responsible. 

Please be aware that environmental regulations apply even if you weren’t aware of them at the time. If you’re still unsure about the rules, we encourage you to ask us first so we can help you avoid any unintentional breaches.

If you wish to report someone who is not following the rules for burning, please call our Incident Hotline on 0800 504 639, which operates 24/7.  It is advisable that you collect photos and videos where possible to reflect the activity.  Our officers are often field based during working hours and must follow health and safety protocols in the evening.  This means that officers may not be able to attend reports immediately. 

Exceptions are when you may burn, even if your property is less than 1 ha or it is winter, in certain circumstances, as follows:

1. On an industrial or trade premises, in an incinerator, burning only on site¬ generated materials, or
2. In a wood fired kiln, or
3. A community bonfire run by a community-controlled organisation, where NRC and FENZ are notified five working days in advance, or
4. An outdoor fire used for cooking, such as: 
   • Gas BBQs
   • Wood fired pizza ovens
   • Fire pits designed for cooking
   • Charcoal or gas appliances

For cooking fires, you may also burn gas, liquid fuel, or charcoal. 

If the burn will last more than 24 hours and is within 100 m of a smoke sensitive area, then the same notification requirements apply as above.

Our Regional Plan says what you can and what you can’t burn, what needs a resource consent and what is prohibited.

Regional Plan for Northland and other information

• Dispose of your waste through council’s roadside collection
• Recycle plastics, paper, glass and tins by placing them in your recycling bin, or taking them to your local recycling centre
• Compost your garden waste - including clippings, trimmings, small branches and leaves
• Take larger quantities of refuse to a transfer station for disposal.

Wood burners are a popular way to heat Northland homes. A modern, well used wood burner can provide good heat with very little smoke.

But older burners, damp wood, or incorrect use can create excessive chimney smoke and air pollution, which can affect your health and your neighbours.

Why chimney smoke matters

When wood burns, it releases tiny particles into the air called particulate matter (PM). These particles are so small you often can’t see them, even when the chimney looks smoky.

The two main types are:

• PM₁₀ – can be breathed into the nose and throat.
• PM₂.₅ – much smaller and more harmful; can reach deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

Wood burner smoke is one of the main sources of PM₂.₅ in Northland during winter.

Health effects of PM

Even low levels of PM can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs. Common short-term effects include:

• Coughing or sore throat
• Breathing difficulty or wheezing
• Worsening asthma
• Headaches

What causes excessive chimney smoke

A smoky chimney usually means the fire is not burning efficiently. Common causes include:

• Burning damp or unseasoned wood
• An older or poorly maintained burner
• Air controls closed too far (“slumber burning”)
• Burning waste, treated timber or other prohibited materials
• A dirty flue or poor draft

Smoke can drift across neighbourhoods and collect in low areas, meaning one smoky chimney can impact many households.

The good news

You can significantly reduce smoke by:

• Using dry, seasoned firewood
• Keeping air controls open enough for a clean burn
• Maintaining your wood burner and cleaning the flue
• Avoiding slumber burning

A well run wood burner produces much less pollution and keeps your home warmer and safer.

Want to know more about air quality in Northland?

Visit our Air Quality reporting for detailed information on air monitoring, pollutant sources, and long‑term trends: 

Air quality - Research and Reports