Firefighters battle Waiheke blaze

Fifteen firefighters and two helicopters are working to douse a 12 hectare scrub fire that is threatening a home on Waiheke Island.

Deputy principal fire officer Brandon Guttery said two helicopters with monsoon buckets were being used to fight the fire, which began just after midnight.

Mr Guttery said the fire was beginning to die down this morning, but it was not yet under control or extinguished.

The fire service was arranging to ferry over extra personnel from Auckland to relieve current crews.

Mr Guttery said the wind was always going to be an issue with a vegetation fire, and if it had changed direction at any point the fire would have threatened more homes.

Wind is forecast to gust up to 90km/h in exposed places today.

Earlier this morning, the police launch took one crew from Auckland City to the island with portable fire-fighting equipment - and more crews were sent on a ferry.

Fire-fighters were maintaining a perimeter around "several homes that are in danger", fire officer Paul Radden said.

One house was evacuated with around 30 people assembling on a nearby beach to be taken off the island by the police launch.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

There have also been three house fires in Auckland overnight - and at least four scrub fires in Northland, in Mangonui, Horeke, Omapere and Ruakaka areas, all fanned by strong winds.