A kohanga reo has gone up in smoke in the central North Island.

SUP080117NADFIRE3.JPGA number of suspicious or carelessly-lit fires, like this one at Pipiwai on Saturday has sparked a total fire

Motorists travelling between the West Coast and Canterbury today were urged to go through Lewis Pass after an early morning fire at

Rural fire crews were confronted with another flare-up this morning at Mahia after a night of damping and monitoring a major grass and scrub fire.

Rocks have been cleared from the road and drivers should travel with caution.

South-westerlies dominating the country this summer will continue to deliver wind and cloud to large parts of the country today.

Helicopters are on their way to a scrub fire in a remote South Island mountainous region.

The three children aged five, eight and nine have been referred to Youth Aid.

Firefighters are pleading with people in the top half of the North Island to get a permit before lighting fires outside.

Ten Fire Service trucks are on their way to the scene.

A Fire Service spokesman said they are heading to the boat near Mabel Island together with Coastguard.

At least one bach has been destroyed and other properties are being evacuated after fire broke out on Kawau Island tonight.

Three houses are no longer under threat from a spreading gorse fire in Mangatangi, Waikato.

Fonterra's Takanini building is filled with smoke - 30 firefighters are currently on the ground.

Emergency services are battling a scrub fire in Gisborne.

A Morrinsville family remain homeless after fire ripped through their home just after Christmas. The McRaes are now having to look

A fire fighting helicopter pilot had an unexpected passenger hitch a ride in his monsoon bucket on Monday.

Two helicopters and 10 fire appliances are being used to fight a blaze that has engulfed four hectares of pine trees north of Helensville.

The funeral for the three family members killed in a Flat Bush house fire will be held in Manukau today.

Police are investigating complaints about a social media appeal for a Morrinsville family who lost everything in a house fire.

A teen and her three young brothers have been gassed to death by a lethal pesticide sprayed under their Texas home.

Neighbours of a Hamilton house on fire woke the sleeping family in time to escape with their lives.

Exactly what caused a huge bush fire in Northland is still being investigated. Several fire crews and two helicopters were needed

Auckland and Bay of Plenty worst hit, but authorities say reduction efforts have worked.

The Auckland man who lost three family members in a horrific house fire last month is still critically injured and will not be able

Kiwis in London are mourning the loss of a popular local watering hole which burned down in a New Year's Eve blaze.

"My whole body was burning; I could feel sparks stinging my face," said Kiwi traveller at New Year's Eve fireworks display.

A Mexican restaurant in Hamilton's CBD has been damaged by fire early today.

A woman is in a serious condition after suffering severe burns to 25 per cent of her body in a car fire.

Firefighters in Kaiapoi, North of Christchurch, are attending a large blaze near the Waimakariri River this afternoon.