New Zealand Fire Service - Northland Region

'Fire seasons' are designed to control the number and type of ignitions at particularly hazardous times of the year. To find out whether or not you need a permit, check the current Fire Status in your area.
This map shows the Fire Season Status as of today:

Open Fire Season	No permit is required to light a fire in the open air. You are, however, responsible for any consequences should the fire escape control.
Restricted Fire Season	A permit is required from a Rural Fire Authority to light a fire in the open air. These generally exclude gas BBQs. A permit does not absolve you from responsibility.You are responsible for any consequences should the fire escape control.
Prohibited Fire Season	Conditions are such that all fires are banned, even when a permit has been issued.

Fire Season Status

Geography

Northland Te Tai Tokerau is New Zealand’s northernmost region- a long narrow peninsula with 1700kms of scenic coastline on a land area of 13,941 sq km. Northland stretches from Mangawhai Heads in the south to the most north-western tip of the Aupouri Peninsula - Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua), where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

Northland boasts a subtropical climate, and is famous for its many spectacular beaches and giant kauri forests. It is also home to the world-renowned Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve and the scenic Bay of Islands.

Local government in the area comprises the Northland Regional Council; and the Whangarei, Kaipara and Far North District Councils based at Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaikohe respectively.

History

Known as “the birthplace of the nation” Northland was home to some of New Zealand’s first human inhabitants and was also the location of the country’s original capital. The region saw some of the most significant early interactions between Maori and Pakeha including the first signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

People

Today Northland has a population of more than 153,800 people (4% of NZ population) spread through urban and rural communities. With a workforce of around 69,000 people and around 20,671 businesses, Northland’s 2006 Gross Domestic Product of around $4 billion represents about 3% of the nations GDP.

Northland is a region of diverse socio-economic patterns as well as environmental characteristics. These differences are particularly marked from the south, where there is a spill over effect of Auckland's growth, to the north, which is remote and sparsely settled. In turn, the east coast with its sheltered harbours, is characterised by high recreational use and coastal subdivision, while the more exposed west coast contains few settlements and has a slower population growth.

While Northland boasts a number of features that make it a favourite holiday destination for many New Zealanders, it remains a relatively poor and isolated region with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the country.

Northland Fire Region

Working alongside Northland communities to protect what they value is the Northland Fire Region team. Comprising of 17 regional management and support staff, 35 paid firefighters and approx 540 volunteer firefighters the Northland Fire Region is based in Whangarei with a further 27 outlying Fire Stations throughout the region.

Northland Fire Region believes strongly in maintaining close ties with partners in the community including local Iwi (Ngapuhi, Te Aupouri, Ngati Kahu Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa, Ngati Whatua, Ngatiwai), local social services groups, other government departments and of course the local territorial authorities.

Northland Fire Region is the birthplace of the Te Kotahitanga Smoke alarm project. This was established in 2002 in response to a tragic fire death rate in Northland over the preceeding years particularly in rural areas and amongst children and Maori.

Since being established in Northland approx 20,000 homes have been visited and over 67,000 smoke alarms installed locally. Te Kotahitanga has been rolled out in several other parts of the country and nationally almost 85,000 “at risk” people have had fire safety advice and over 140,000 alarms have been installed. Overall there has been a significant downturn in the number of fire deaths in the areas targeted.