Nelson City Council

Follow these steps to learn key information about enclosed burners, if you are affected by the Nelson Air Quality rules, and what you need to do.

Step 1: Do I have to stop using my burner?

Use of some enclosed burners are banned as of 1 January 2010. Depending on the airshed in which you live, and depending on when your burner was originally installed, you may very well be affected. Find out more by reading on.

An enclosed burner is a small-scale fuel burning appliance, where combustion of solid fuel occurs within a firebox enclosed by a door, and where there is generally a controlled supply of air to the fire. It includes free-standing or in-built woodburners, pellet fires, potbelly stoves, multi-fuel burners like Junos and 'chippies', and coal ranges, but excludes any open fire.

Step 2: Determine when your burner was installed

Your installation records will provide an answer to this, but if you don't know, phone Council  on +64 3 546 0200 to find out.

Step 3: Locate which airshed you live in

Lookup which airshed you live in by locating your address on a simple list. Once you are done, go to the next step below and determine if you are affected, and when.

Step 4: Your airshed will tell you if you're affected

Once you've got your airshed information, read on.

I live in Either Airshed A or Airshed B1

• If your existing enclosed burner was installed before 1996, you cannot use it after 1 January 2010.
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed between 1996 and 1999, you cannot use it after 1 January 2012
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed between 2000 and 2003, you cannot use it after 1 January 2013 unless it is one of Council's authorised burners.

I live in Airshed B2

• If your existing enclosed burner was installed before 1991, you cannot use it after 1 January 2010.
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed between 1991 and 1995, you cannot use it after 1 January 2012
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed after 1995, you can carry on using it, there is no phase out date for your burner.

I live in Airshed C or the Glen

There is no scheduled phase out of enclosed burners in these areas. An existing enclosed burner can only be replaced with an authorised burner from the Council list, except at The Glen where any house can have an authorised burner.

Step 5: Financial assistance

If you are affected by the new Air Quality Plan rules and have to replace your enclosed burner, there is financial assistance available to help in some instances.

• Pay as you Heat (through the Clean Heat Warm Homes programme)
• Energywise

ENERGYWISE^TM funding

If you are eligible for the Council's Clean Heat Warm Homes "Pay as you Heat " scheme you will also benefit from the Government's ENERGYWISE^TM funding which provides substantial grants for insulation and clean heating. These grants are on top of the Council's targeted rate of $4999, which you will repay over 10 years.

If you are not eligible for the Council's scheme you will still be able to access ENERGYWISE^TM funding subsidies on insulation and heaters via a private  provider operating in Nelson, however you will not be able to pay back the balance on your rates. Visit the Energywise website for details.

Optional: Nelson's Air Quality Plan

If you want more detail, feel free to read more detail about the new Air Quality Rules, see Nelson's Air Quality Plan for more information.