KEY POINTS:
A four hectare bush fire in the Far North is threatening two homes and possibly some endangered species.
The fire began about 2.45pm on a block of Muriwhenua Incorporation land on the corner of Te Hapua and Spirits Bay Rd, about 25km from Cape Reinga.
Two helicopters and nine fire crews were fighting the fire.
Department of Conservation Kaitaia area manager Jon Maxwell said the crews were hoping to contain the fire as quickly as possible.
"We are putting as many resources as we can into the fire area to prevent further spread and to bring it under control as rapidly as we can," he said.
Mr Maxwell said two houses in the area had been evacuated by DOC staff.
He said there was no immediate danger to any other houses, though a wind direction change could threaten the village of Te Hapua.
Mr Maxwell said the fire was next to the 18,878ha Te Paki reserves, a regenerating landscape which contained many lizards, endemic snails and the endangered Bartlett's Rata.
He was unsure what caused the fire.
- NZPA
