Good Wood Scheme and suppliers

Look for the Good Wood tick

When you choose a GOOD WOOD supplier, you're opting for a trusted source of dry firewood that will burn well, keeping your home warmer and our air cleaner.

Don't forget to clean your chimney too. Not only is this important to help prevent chimney fires, it will also help your wood burner run more efficiently.

Firewood with a moisture content of more than 25% is banned in Nelson. Green wood that has recently been cut or wood that has not been stored properly or for long enough does not meet this requirement.

Council’s GOOD WOOD Scheme participants have agreed to supply Nelson householders with either:

  • Seasoned firewood, suitable for immediate use during the winter months, or
  • Green (unseasoned) firewood delivered sufficiently far in advance of winter so that, if properly stored by the user, it will be seasoned for use in the winter months. Ideally, this would be before Christmas for the following winter.

When ordering seasoned wood from a GOOD WOOD supplier, request that the wood complies with Council’s maximum moisture requirements. If it doesn’t, don’t accept the delivery. Test by striking two pieces of wood together - dry wood will make a sharp cracking sound. Cracks at the end of the wood are another sign that it is dry.

Alternatively, buy green wood in time for it to be seasoned before winter. Ensure that any green wood purchased is stored so that the air can circulate freely and is sheltered from rain. Wood will take between 4 and 12 months to season.

Be aware of 'Roadside' supply

If you choose to purchase firewood from a 'side of the road' source, you may get caught out with a green load. This will be difficult to burn, it won't produce as much heat as dry wood, and it will be extremely smoky.

Likewise, if you have cut down a tree, stack it and allow it to season for 12 months before burning. Cut it into suitable sized pieces for your wood burner as well. Chunks that are too large will not burn properly, meaning less heat and more smoke.

Get your fire off to a great start

Start with plenty of crumpled paper and dry kindling wood (cut from your Good Wood supply) and keep all the air vents wide open.

Paul MacLennan from A. Miller and Sons, Good Wood Supplier says, “It’s important to start with small pieces of wood and gradually add bigger bits as the fire builds up. Some people are tempted to put large logs on too soon, thinking they’ll get warm faster.  It’s actually much worse, - you just produce more smoke and can sometimes put the fire out altogether.”

The ideal size for your firewood is a thickness of about 10 – 15 centimetres. That will ensure your fire keeps ticking over and producing good warmth while keeping the smoke down.

Remember you’ll burn better, brighter and hotter all night if you start off right!

Good Wood Suppliers

A Miller and Sons Ltd

Paul McLennan

127 Bolt Road
Tahunanui
Nelson 7011
+64 3 547 6850

Richmond Wood and Coal

Ashley and Melinda Kelly

Beach Road
Richmond
+64 3 544 6473

Mickey Rat Firewood

Mark Elvines

Bryant Road
Brightwater 7022
+64 3 542 3922

Russ Firewood

Murray and Judy Russ

34 Landsdowne Road, Appleby
Richmond 7081
+64 3 544 5151

Bay Firewood

Arun Wells

52 Meihana St
Takaka 7110
+64 3 525 6036

Riwaka Valley Firewood

Hugh Drummond

Riwaka Valley
RD 3, Motueka
+64 3 528 9878

Coastal Firewood

Mapua
+64 3 548 1220 or 027 452 6300

Kevs Firewood

Wakefield
+64 3 541 9236

Motueka Firewood

Motueka
+64 3 528 0414 or 027 244 9019

The Wright Firewood Company

Brightwater
+64 3 5444350