Wood Pellets, Burners & Boilers – Availability In NZ

The wood pellet market is still in its initial phases in New Zealand and produced 5,000 tons for 2,000 residential customers in 2004. With a large scale pellet plant now operating, the market is extended to small to medium scale commercial operations, and is competitive with gas.

Activity is increasing as the popularity of pellets takes off. There are pockets of activity in a number of regions across the country.

MANUFACTURES OF WOOD PELLETS

Pellets are now manufactured in New Zealand by a growing number of producers:

    • Nature’s Flame (Christchurch and Rotorua)
    • "HotShottzz" from Golden Strand Wood Fibres Limited, (Auckland)
    • Inset Firelogs (NZ) Limited, (Hastings)
    • Wood Pellet Fuels Limited, (Huntly)
    • Southern Wood Pellets, (Invercargill)
    • The Green Lucifer Company, (West Auckland)

See suppliers list for contact details.

MANUFACTURERS OF BURNERS, STOVES AND BOILERS IN NEW ZEALAND

There are currently six New Zealand based manufactures of wood pellet stoves/burners and boilers:

    • McKenzie Heating Design (Dunedin),
    • Parkwood Pellet Fires
    • Taymac (Taylor Manufacturing Ltd) (Christchurch).
    • Metalfab Industries (Auckland)
    • Pioneer Manufacturing Ltd. (Taranaki)
    • Eco Flame Ltd

See suppliers list for contact details.

RETAILERS OF PELLETS, BURNERS AND BOILERS

Pellets are available from a wide range of outlets. See suppliers list for further details.

Both New Zealand made and a wide range of brands of imported pellet fires and pellet fired boilers from Europe, North America, and Australia are now available in New Zealand. See suppliers list for further details.

Emissions and Council Approved Pellet Fires

After 1st September 2005 the National Environmental Standards (NES) for air quality require that all wood burners installed on properties less than 2 hectares must have a discharge of less than 1.5 grams of particles for each kilogram of dry wood burnt, and a thermal efficiency at least 65%.

NOTE - Pellet burners are not included in the National Environmental Standard as they cannot be tested in accordance with the method due to their automatic feed mechanism.  Pellet burners are however, extremely efficient and clean burning.

Further information on the National Environmental Standard for air quality is available from the Ministry for the Environment website.

The Ministry for the Environment has also produced a list of pellet burners (approved by ECAN and Nelson Councils). Details on emissions from these burners are noted (if they have been tested) at their website.

The following Councils have released details on consented and approved pellet burners (as well as wood burners):

Current Standards

The main standards for Wood Pellets typically cover the following issues:

  • Pellets specification (i.e., size, shape, chemical content, water content etc).  Standards for pellets typically aim to ensure a consistent quality.
  • Pellet burner emissions
  • Pellet burner efficiency
  • Pellet burner installation
  • Other standards focus on transport, storage and distribution.

Current Standards in New Zealand: (AS/NZS 4014.6:2007, AS/NZS 4886:2007, AS/NZS 5078:2007)

There are currently no standards for pellets specifications and the installation of pellet appliances.

For more information on standards go to BANZ members section.