Ngā ture mō te tahu ahi i waho Rules for outdoor fires

You cannot light open fires in Auckland's urban area. This includes all residential and business land. If you are unsure if your property is urban or rural, check your address.

Check the current fire season rules on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand website before you light a small heating or cooking fire, such as:

• gas or solid fuel barbecues
• pizza ovens
• braziers
• outdoor fireplaces
• hāngi Traditional style of cooking for Māori. Food is placed into a hole in the ground and cooked over hot stones covered by leaves or, in modern days with a clean cloth and heavy cotton bags, to keep much of the steam in place and then covered by soil to trap all the steam in. or umu The Samoan and Niuean equivalent of a 'hangi' except the food is placed directly on hot stones, on the top of the ground, as opposed to digging a hole. .

Visit Permanent outdoor fireplaces and ovens for more information. 

You cannot burn rubbish or garden waste. 

You cannot light open fires or set off fireworks in public places in Auckland. This includes:

• beaches and foreshores
• parks
• conservation areas
• forests.

How to cook safely in regional parks 

You can use a gas barbecue or a contained solid fuel fire (like a charcoal barbecue) in the picnic areas of regional parks. This depends on Fire and Emergency New Zealand rules. Check current restrictions on Can I light a fire? before you go.

When using a contained solid fuel fire, you must:

• bring your own fuel to the park
• cook away from long grass and low-hanging trees or plants 
• cook off the ground or on a hard surface
• keep something close by to extinguish the fire (within 5 metres)
• fully cool your coals when finished and take them home with your rubbish.

• Protect people and communities from fire.
• Protect Auckland's air quality.
• Prevent unnecessary emergency fire calls.