National Standards for Wood Burners

The city council enforces national environmental standards as they apply to wood burners on Napier properties smaller than two hectares.

If you are planning to install a wood burner or to move a wood burner within the same house, check that it is a model approved by the Ministry for the Environment.

The council will only issue building consents to burners on the ministry's authorised list. These burners have been subjected to a rigorous checking process to ensure they comply.

The web page for a national list of authorised wood burners can be found on:

• www.mfe.govt.nz

Low-combustion burners and/or those that can be turned down to allow them to smoulder overnight do not meet the ministry's standards.

Introduced in 1 September 2005, the standards are not retrospective and don't affect wood burners installed before that date.

A secondhand wood burner can still be installed if it meets the standards or if the property is two hectares or more. Such a burner is less likely to comply with the standards, however - a national performance review of wood burners done in 2006 revealed poor compliance overall.

The ministry's standards do not cover multi-fuel, coal burners or open fires as these are not recommended forms of heating. Extremely efficient and clean burning, pellet burners are also not covered.

A wood-burning stove designed and used for cooking - one that has an oven and not just a hot plate - may still be installed. Wetbacks are also still allowed, but they must meet minimum efficiency standards. The ministry's authorised list includes wetback wood burner models.