The total fire ban which has been inforce on the Coromandel this summer has been lifted this week.

But the Thames-Coromandel District Council says while the ban has been lifted due to higher than normal rainfall over December and January, the fire risk on the peninsula still remains high.

'Although we will return to a restricted fire season, permits will be required for smaller fires only in the open, and these permits will be limited to seven days. They won't apply to land clearing or burning stumps or logs,” says council.

The decision to lift the ban was made jointly by the Thames Valley Rural Fire Authority and the Department of Conservation.

Permits will be issued from Tuesday and depending on factors such as possible inspections can take up to five days to process.

For more information or to apply for permits online visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/fire