The alleged attempted arson of a campervan may have been an "extreme reaction" to freedom camping...

One of NZ's oldest department stores escaped extensive damage when a sprinkler system activated and put out a fire which could have destroyed the building.

Ten fire appliances attended the blaze at the Smith and Caughey building on Auckland's Queen Street.

Thick smoke from a fire in one of Auckland's biggest department stores poured out on to Queen St late last night, shutting major city streets.

Firefighters have contained a large scrub fire in Masterton which was burning on about six hectares of land.

A remote-controlled toy plane given to a teenager for Christmas nearly claimed his family's lives after it set their house on fire.

Entire Queensland towns have been inundated and more could go under in a deluge that's swamped the state makes its way towards the sea.

Mass evacuations are under way across flooded Queensland with disasters declared in the inland towns of Theodore, Dalby and Chinchilla.

Firefighters in Canterbury are preparing to spend their Christmas Day battling a blaze that has so far burnt nearly 60 hectares of trees and pasture.

Canterbury firefighters continue to battle two major fires in the region, but both blazes are under control.

A massive blaze has engulfed the hills above Waimate in south Canterbury and tonight continues to burn.

Stretched Canterbury firefighters are battling two large scrub fires, one in Rolleston and one in Waimate.

Firefighters are continuing to battle a 120 hectare scrub fire in Waimate, which has now spread into forest.