A short-term prohibition on the use of private fireworks in the Central Otago, Lakes and Upper Waitaki areas also comes into force today. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said the move to a restricted fire season brought the Queenstown Lakes area into line with Central Otago and Upper Waitaki. The restricted fire season and temporary ban on fireworks both reflect Fenz’s efforts to cut the risk of wildfires over the summer. Unfortunately, the same thing happened with outdoor fires — bonfires, campfires and land management fires, he said. In a restricted fire season most types of outdoor fires, including bonfires and campfires, require a fire permit.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 23, 2025 15:40 UTC