Northern and Southern fire crews battling blazes at opposite ends of the country

Two scrub fires are burning at the opposite ends of the country tonight, one in the far north at Kaingaroa and another in the south at Hawea.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to the blaze near Kaingaroa at 6.45pm where around 10 hectares of property is on fire.

Two helicopters are attacking the blaze from the air, meanwhile, five crews are battling it from the ground, a FENZ spokesman said.

He said ground access to the fire was difficult and the two helicopters were playing a vital part in tackling the blaze.

Meanwhile, a three-hectare fire which was threatening homes near Hawea is believed to be under control after multiple helicopters attacked it.

Four helicopters equipped with monsoon buckets worked on the fire to bring it under control after six houses nearby were under threat.

Helicopters and fire engines are battling the blaze above the township. Photo / ODT

A FENZ spokesman told the Otago Daily Times a call about the blaze was received at 5.20pm.

When the fire broke out, houses were being threatened by the fire and it was understood they had been evacuated.

''Crews are working to protect those properties where possible.''

An employee of the Lake Hawea Hotel said the fire appeared to have started by the roadside near Capell Ave, the turn-off into Lake Hawea by State Highway 6.

''With the wind, it's just gathered speed.''

There were individual trees with rings of fire around them, and the houses were possibly in danger.

''I would definitely say that,'' she said.

The fire could be seen from the hotel at the time.

The road was closed, and the fire was moving up the hill.

''The smoke's gone from white to black.

''It's just gathering momentum.''

The NZ Transport Agency said SH6 has been closed at the intersection with Capell Ave as firefighters tackle the blaze and it advised motorists to avoid the area.

The fire temporarily forced the closure of State Highway 6 and caused around 10 home occupants to leave the impacted area, the Queenstown lakes District Council said.

"All local residents were evacuated at an early stage," Bobby Lamont, Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer for Central Otago said.

A stop-go is in operation on a short one-lane stretch between Lake Hawea Holiday Camp and Capell Avenue - the access to Lakw Hawea township.

Around 5-10 hectares of pine forest on the affected slopes of Mount maude to the south-west of Lake Hawea township.

One crew will reamin in standby overnight and it is anticipated they will be relieved by three FENZ crews and two helicopters around 7am tomorrow.