Latest fromFires
Dry conditions keep South Island firefighters busy
The fire, along the ridge of the Maungatua Hill Range, forced the evacuation of a number of properties on nearby McKendry Rd this morning.
Feedback douses council fireplace ban
A controversial plan to ban domestic open fires and old woodburners in Auckland has been kicked to touch until at least next year.
'Sad' hall blaze suspicious
A fire which destroyed a community hall near Tauranga last night has been labelled suspicious by authorities.
Cafe blaze: Owners consider options
Operators of an almost-built cafe in Auckland's Cornwall Park that was gutted by a deliberately lit fire on Sunday are considering temporary replacement options.
Fires after 80,000 lightning strikes
Several small bushfires are burning in northwest South Australia after a barrage of lightning strikes overnight.
'Going back was just not an option'
The driver of a speeding car which caught fire at the end of a bizarre police chase had to turn himself in after dense bush and gorse proved too rough, a witness says.
Mosque fire suspicious
A fire at an Auckland mosque that has been at the centre of allegations of extremist Islamic teaching is being treated as suspicious.
Police probe blaze at mosque
Police are investigating whether a fire at an Auckland mosque that has been at the centre of allegations of extremist Islamic teaching was deliberately lit.
Park cafe fire 'deliberate'
A fire that gutted a million-dollar cafe in one of the country's most popular parks is being treated as suspicious.
Bizarre police chase ends in flames
A driver speeding at 150km/h dropped a hitch-hiker off on the side of the road before continuing to flee police until his car caught fire.
Mosque fire under investigation
A fire at a mosque early this morning is under investigation.
Road death casts shadow over weekend
One person has died after a a car and truck collided north of Auckland. It is the first road death of the long weekend.
Burn-off could land Morgan in court
A prosecution could be in the wind for TradeMe founder Sam Morgan, after a burn-off on his property on Tuesday blanketed Wanaka in smoke.
'Appalling' thick smoke chokes Wanaka
Thick smoke from a farmer's burn-off blanketed Wanaka for much of yesterday afternoon, angering some residents and perplexing tourists.
Police investigate after gas bottle explosion
Police are investigating a huffing incident in South Auckland after two people were hurt when a gas bottle exploded this evening.
Blaze at Blenheim's Wither Hills 'suspicious'
Fire crews have stayed overnight at the scene of a suspicious fire on Blenheim's Wither Hills.
Boy suffocated after dirt cave collapses
Friends of a boy buried beneath a mound of dirt ran to neighbouring homes to ask for help yesterday.
'Real family man' mourned
The son of a man killed in a controlled scrub burn-off in North Canterbury has paid tribute to "an extraordinary father figure".
Man killed during burn-off
A man killed in a controlled scrub burn-off near Arthur’s Pass in the South Island was believed to have been overcome by smoke inhalation.
Open fire ban on council agenda
A ban on domestic open fireplaces and old wood burners affecting up to 85,000 homes is being drawn up by Auckland Council.
Waiheke houseboat fire not suspicious
The Waiheke Island boat fire that killed a transient alcoholic and badly injured the boat owner has been deemed not suspicious by fire investigators.
Waiheke donation site to help fire victim
A Waiheke Island resident has set up a donation site so people can help out the owner of a house boat that burnt out this week, killing another man.
Fire strikes Waipu house for second time
A house that survived a previous arson attack was the scene of another suspicious fire last night.
Fire victim hit rock bottom
The man who died in a Waiheke Island boat fire this week had fallen on hard times, tumbling from a career in architecture into a life of alcohol and transience.