Canterbury's Mackenzie Basin is now in a restricted fire season, following hot and dry conditions.
Mackenzie Basin is now in a restricted fire season. Photo: Supplied
The change took effect at 1am today.
It means anyone planning to light an open-air fire needs to obtain a permit.
District Manager Rob Hands said permit-holders should carefully consider the conditions before lighting a fire.
A fireworks ban remains in place in the Mackenzie Basin until the end of March.
Fire restrictions are now in place for much of the country including Marlborough, Otago Lakes, Auckland and Waikato, Northland, the Wellington Region, Taranaki, Waikato, Southland, Mackenzie Basin and Ruapehu District.