Puriri Firewood — NZ Guide
Vitex lucens
Quick Answer
Puriri is NZ's densest firewood with the highest heat output and longest burn time of any native species. Extremely hard to split. Available only in Northland and Waikato.
Heat Output
Very High
Burn Time
Long
Smoke Level
Very Low
Spark Risk
None
Creosote Risk
Low
Price Range
$180-$250/m3
Best For
Premium heating — NZ's densest firewood
Available In
Notes
NZ's densest and highest-performing native firewood. Extremely hard, burns incredibly slowly with intense heat and almost no smoke. Very difficult to split — often requires a hydraulic splitter. Limited availability as puriri is a protected native species, only available from salvage or private land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is puriri the best firewood in NZ?
Puriri is widely considered NZ's best firewood by pure performance metrics — it has the highest density, longest burn time, and most intense heat of any NZ species. However, it is very hard to split and has limited availability.
Where can I get puriri firewood?
Puriri grows naturally only in Northland and Waikato. It is a protected native species, so firewood is only available from salvage operations, storm-fallen trees, or private land with the owner's permission.
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