A total fire ban is now in place for the Thames-Coromandel area.

As of 8am on Sunday, December 20, Thames-Coromandel moved into a prohibited fire season, says a post on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Facebook page.

This means open air fires are banned from Whangamata and Komata in the south to Port Jackson in the north, until further notice. The fire ban also includes Great Mercury Island.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Matt Cook says Thames-Coromandel is very popular with summer tourists and Fire and Emergency wants to reduce the risk of potential wildfires as much as possible.

'We are likely to see more people coming to the area from all over New Zealand this year, and we'd like them to be familiar about what they can and cannot do once they get here.

'While we understand a lot of holidaymakers enjoy using fireworks and lighting bonfires, we would appreciate it if those activities could be cancelled while in Thames-Coromandel."

For more information, go to: www.checkitsalright.nz