Emergency services at Petone factory blast

Emergency services are at a Lower Hutt battery factory after a boiler exploded.

The blast happened at the Exide Technologies factory in Petone, south of Lower Hutt.

Police said the blast appeared to have come from a furnace.

Fire communications spokeswoman Linda Beets said the explosion blew out windows in buildings near-by.

She said no injuries were caused by the explosion.

Ms Beets said police and the Labour Department were investigating the cause of the explosion and the regional council was testing to see if the explosion had caused any air pollution.

NZ HERALD STAFF & NZPA