An ammonia leak resulted in a full evacuation at a Southland meat processing plant this afternoon.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand southern communications shift manager Simon Lyford said crews were alerted via a fire alarm at South Pacific Meats in Awarua, Invercargill, about 12pm.
Two appliances were initially sent from Invercargill and the plant evacuated.
"They responded to a possible ammonia leak, possibly due to a power cut.''
A second alarm was then transmitted once it was a confirmed to be a leak and a Hazmat team was dispatched.