A loud bang heard at Mount Maunganui shortly before 6am today was part of a controlled burn-off at Tauranga Airport, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said.
A spokesman said said firefighters were called after reports came in of a fire in the area.
The spokesman said "apparantly there was an explosion of sorts" but no further action was needed.
The burn-off lasted about an hour-and-a-half.
