The total fire ban on the Strath Taieri rural fire zone, which has been in force since December 8, will be lifted tomorrow morning.
Civil defence and rural fires manager Neil Brown said the lifting of the ban returned all rural areas under Dunedin City Council jurisdiction to a restricted fire season, meaning a permit was required for any fire in the open air.
While the fire risk had decreased, people should not be complacent about the way they managed fires, he said.
No fire should be left unattended and ashes should be extinguished thoroughly.
"Great care should be exercised when carrying out any permitted burning activity."
The total ban also included urban Middlemarch, so outdoor burning could now resume there subject to bylaw conditions, he said.
However, in Central Otago and the southern lakes district, the fire risk was still high.
Queenstown Lakes District Council principal rural fire officer Gordon Bailey said it had "gone the other way" in the southern lakes, with the fire danger "very high".
While people might think recent rain had helped, Mr Bailey urged people to remain vigilant.
"Grass dries out pretty quick around here. "Sometimes, you light a fire and it's gone and there's nothing you can do [to stop it]. The total fire ban which came into effect at the end of November in Central Otago remained in force.
"There's certainly no chance of it being downgraded in the near future, by the looks of the weather forecasts," Central Otago principal rural fire officer Owen Burgess said.
There had been little rain for months and the district needed rain over a prolonged period of time to penetrate the ground and lessen the fire risk.
"Although we've had bits and pieces of rain in Alexandra, there's still only been 18mm this month and it's not enough."
The fire risk was still high, he said.
In the Waitaki district, the fire danger is moderate on the coast and inland around the upper Waitaki from about Aviemore west, but high in a central strip where there had been little rain.
It remained high in the Macraes-Dunback area.
The council had a restricted fire season in place, which meant permits were required.
The Clutha district was in a similar position, with a restricted fire season in place requiring permits to burn, planning and environment manager Murray Brass said.
"It's still dry enough to keep an eye on conditions and have controls in place."
The Dunedin City Council has lifted Mosgiel water restrictions due to a drop in daily demand.
Since December Mosgiel, Kinmont, Braeside, east and north Taieri and Wingatui have had to restrict watering between 8am and 8pm.
