The "exceptionally dry conditions" behind a total fire ban for the East Coast are not thought to change soon.
Yesterday a total fire ban from Central Hawke's Bay to the top of the East Cape was announced, following months of dry conditions for the region.
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council's monthly state of the environment report released yesterday showed the region had half the normal amount of rainfall during November and December, with recent strong westerly winds thought to have hastened the drying.
The ban also follows a spate of fires in recent weeks - from scrub fires in Meeanee, Clive, Gisborne, and Havelock North.
In Maraekakaho a family home was razed, while residents of the small Mahanga community near Mahia spent Sunday fighting an out-of-control fire.