Fire restrictions now in place for Waikato District
As of the 10th of January, a permit will be required to light an open fire. This new restriction covers all areas within Hamilton City, Waikato, Hauraki, Matamata Piako, Waipa, Otorohanga and Waitomo.
District Manager of Fire and Emergency NZ, Daryl Trim, has shared that this change from open to restricted has come after the recent dry spell, where very little rain has fallen over the last three weeks.
While some open-air fires such as campfires, bonfires and land management fires will require a permit, holiday-makers and locals can still undertake a range of activities that include fire.
"If it does require one, the website can take you through a few easy steps to get permitted for the activity" Daryl Trim says.
Here's what you need to know:
- Open-air fires will need permits in the areas of Hamilton City, Waikato, Hauraki, Matamata Piako, Waipa, Otorohanga and Waitomo.
- Some activities such as hangi, umu and gas-fired barbecues are still permitted.
To get information on whether your planned activity requires a permit, head to www.checkitsalright.nz......
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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37.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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62.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
🍦 A Challenge for the Sweetest Tooth!
We all love a scoop (or three) of ice cream... but the owner at Little Liberty Creamery in Taranaki is taking things to a whole new level for 2026!
Her goal? 52 new flavours this year. That’s one brand-new, experimental creation every single week! 🤯
The Great Flavour Debate: We want to know what the current "Gold Standard" is for you.
What is the crème de la crème of ice cream flavours?
🍦 The Purist: Are you a "perfect vanilla or nothing" kind of person?
🍫 The Chocoholic: The darker and chunkier the better?
🧂 The Salty-Sweet: Is Salted Caramel still the reigning champ?
🌈 The Wildcard: Are you into the experimental stuff—think lavender, chilli, or charcoal?
Tell us your absolute favourite flavour in the comments below! 👇
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
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