Regional Council welcomes proposed MfE burning rules change

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council welcomes the advice by the Ministry for the Environment that an Order in Council has been proposed by the Minister for the Environment.

Environment Minister David Parker said today that a proposed temporary rule change would enable rural Hawke’s Bay landowners dealing with masses of cyclone and flood debris to carefully burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity.

The proposed Order in Council under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Act that would temporarily allow open-air burning of cyclone and flood waste in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

If approved, the Order in Council would take effect no later than 27 June and would expire on 15 December.

Regional Council staff will be working with landowners to ensure they understand the new permitted activity standards that accompany this temporary rule change. These would include:

• Steps to separate materials (e.g. tanalised posts, plastics, wire etc.), where possible
• Timing of the burn
• Weather conditions
• Preparation of a fire management plan
• Notification of parties (e.g. Fire and Emergency New Zealand –  https://www.firepermit.nz/FENZ/Default.aspx)
• Appropriate disposal of remaining waste material and ash
• Site testing and remediation, if required

Rural property owners with questions about burning can contact Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Pollution Hotline on 0800 108 838.

How to provide feedback and next steps

 We invite you to provide feedback on these proposals, which will be provided to the review panel considering these Orders in Council under the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Act 2023.

 Please email your feedback to severeweather@mfe.govt.nz

 Feedback must be received by 5pm, Tuesday 13 June

Need more info?

Mike Johansson - Director Communications and Engagement | 027 263 5986

9 June 2023

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