Thermogravimetric analysis of five Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic New Zealand lignites demonstrate that their combustion behaviour is distinct from that of subbituminous coals and may be characterised by peak temperature (T-6 = 377-416 degrees C), maximum rate of combustion (R-C = 25-31%wt min(-1)), and temperature of char burnout (T-8 = 421-497 degrees C). These parameters reflect variation in thermal behaviour associated with both the organic and inorganic constituents of the coal. The information obtained is additional to that found by proximate analysis; the latter alone proves insufficient to predict the combustion behaviour of the coals relative to one another. A post-combustion thermal event, T-9, is seen among the lignites as in other low-rank coals combusting below 600 degrees C, which appears to be related to the organic sulphur content of the coal.