A total ban on outdoor fires of all kinds will take effect in the Far North from midday on Wednesday.
Until now, there has just been a restricted fire season in place.
The fire authority says continuing dry weather and an increased fire risk has forced it to take stronger action and declare a prohibited fire season.
Principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor says no significant rain has fallen in the north for weeks and there has already been one major scrub fire at Pouto.
Mr Taylor says out-of-control fires cost the authority $2 million last year and it has billed 10 property owners this summer for fire-fighting costs following out-of-control burn-offs.
Attempting a burn-off in the current conditions would be madness, he says.
