The Tauranga City Council is going to have a bylaw that enables it to declare fire bans - five months after discovering it did not have one.
In January this year, when total fire bans were declared in the Western Bay of Plenty by the Western Bay Moana Rural Fire District, the Tauranga City Council found it had no legal ability to follow suit.

Hangis cannot be banned by Tauranga City Council.

The draft bylaw adopted by the council strategy and policy committee on Tuesday means the council can now declare a total fire ban, banning all open air fires in the city, except gas barbecues and hangi fires on marae land.
The bylaw also restricts lighting fires in public places at any time.
Maori being able to light hangi fires during a total fire ban provoked discussion.
The issue was left unresolved with councillors instead voting to send the draft bylaw out for public consultation.