Dearth of rain brings fire, water bans

Apart from a trace of rain early on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there has been no rain in the Napier-Hastings area for about a fortnight.

A total fire ban is already being enforced by the Hastings District Council on all beaches and public spaces in its area, where an irrigation ban has also been in place at Waimarama since December 22.

Further evidence of drier conditions has been seen in the lowering of river levels, particularly evident yesterday at the Chesterhope Bridge, a popular swimming spot north of Hastings.

Team leader emergency management Trevor Mitchell said: "If you are planning on lighting a fire you may be required to obtain a fire permit. You should contact council as soon as possible to talk over the implications of lighting an outdoor fire, regardless of whether it will be in the rural or urban area of the Hastings district.

"The local emergency management team includes volunteers from throughout the district. Council is grateful for the effort that the volunteers put in through the year. These dedicated people will be available to help out over the holiday period in the event that there is an emergency situation in their area."

Within urban areas, cultural cooking fires (umu and hangi), pizza ovens, braziers, charcoal BBQs are allowed on the condition that they are not lit in windy conditions and are no closer than 5m to anything flammable and completely extinguished with water once finished.

They should not be left unattended at any time.

Permits to burn organic waste will not be issued during the period from December 22 to Monday. A spokesman from Hastings Fire Station said that people needed to obey the council bylaws and be sensible over the festive season.

The irrigation ban at Waimarama is because of the demand the area's water supply faces over the summer.

The third level water restriction bans the use of sprinklers and hoses around the community.

Councillor Tania Kerr urges holidaymakers at Waimarama to be extra vigilant during the Christmas and New Year period, in order to ensure the supply lasts the duration of summer.

"It is particularly important that all residents and holidaymakers comply with the total irrigation ban. This applies to the watering of gardens and lawns from the mains supply while boat owners should use a bucket to wash down their craft, rather than a hose over the summer months.

"Everyone is urged to be conservative in the use of water inside the home by limiting the length of time taken for showers, fixing leaking taps and not leaving taps running unnecessarily."