Selling firewood in New Zealand: cubic metres, approved measures and delivery invoices

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It follows the Trade Measurement website of Trading Standards, which administers the Weights and Measures Act 1987 and the Weights and Measures Regulations 1999. Section numbers below are given as Trading Standards lists them.

Accepted ways to sell

The Trading Standards firewood page lists three acceptable methods of selling firewood.

By volume, for example 3 cubic metres or 1.5 cubic metres.
By weight, for example 50 kilograms.
By description, for example trailer load, sackful or truckload.

References and advertisements for sales by volume must be metric, in cubic metres. The page says non-metric units such as the cord must not be used. It also says it is standard industry practice to sell firewood as a thrown measure, meaning the wood is measured as if thrown into a container.

The measure on the vehicle

If firewood is sold by volume, the vessel or equipment used to measure it must first be approved by Trading Standards as containing the stated volume, for example a scoop, bucket, truck or trailer. The page gives these conditions for a merchant who uses an approved measure for trade.

The approval documentation is carried in the vehicle at all times.
A mark of verification is stamped on each measure.
Each measure is individually numbered if there is more than one.
Signwriting on the measure states its size and that it is approved, for example "Trading Standards approved 3m3".

Firewood measures are approved as brim measures, meaning the contents are correct when the wood is level with the top of the measure.

The invoice or delivery note

When firewood is sold by volume and delivered to the purchaser, the page says an invoice or delivery note must be delivered or sent as soon as practicable. It must show the true measure of firewood delivered, and the seller's address, telephone numbers and email address.

What buyers are told

The Trading Standards page your rights when buying by weight or measure tells buyers that an approved truck or measure should carry a sign stating its size, such as "3 cubic metres" or "3m3". It should also carry either a stamped lead plug with a crown on it, or a Certificate of Approval carried in the vehicle. It adds that the seller should provide a written invoice or delivery notice showing the quantity delivered, and that Trading Standards can say which traders in an area hold a certificate of approval.

Offences, fees and fines

The Trading Standards powers and offences page lists the offences and their penalties. Failing to deliver an invoice for firewood is not listed as its own offence there, but the firewood page says it may be an offence.

Offence as listed	Infringement fee and fine
Not using the metric system when advertising goods for sale (section 10)	NZ$200 fee. Fine not exceeding NZ$10,000.
Not selling or offering goods by net weight or measure as required (section 14)	NZ$200 fee. Fine not exceeding NZ$10,000.
Delivering a lesser quantity than purchased when sold by weight, measure or number (section 16)	NZ$500 fee. Fine not exceeding NZ$10,000.
Using or holding for trade a measure without the prescribed mark of verification (section 21)	NZ$200 fee. Fine not exceeding NZ$10,000.
A measure in use for trade found false or unjust (section 24)	NZ$500 fee. Fine not exceeding NZ$10,000.

The page says officers may enter premises, test equipment used for trade, take copies of documents, seize equipment or goods that do not comply, and prohibit the use of non-compliant equipment. It lists the enforcement steps in order of seriousness as a 28-day compliance notice, a letter of warning, an infringement offence notice and prosecution, and says the preferred approach is to educate first.

For the model rule and other places, see the firewood sale rules overview. Public-land collection rules are on the Australia and New Zealand public-land firewood page.