Massive blaze forces evacuation of township

Half of Takaka township in Golden Bay was evacuated tonight after a massive blaze engulfed the Fonterra milk factory.

Some 2000 people within half a kilometre of the factory were asked by police to leave their homes as a precautionary measure after the blaze broke out just after 5pm.

Takaka is 120km north-west of Nelson and sits on the edge of the Able Tasman National Park.

A dozen fire engines including those from nearby townships have been deployed to contain the blaze at the factory, which occupies two acres of land. Firefighters were still trying to get the fire under control by 7.30pm.

Local taxi operator Lindsay Hill said the authorities were probably concerned about the toxic fumes produced from burning polysterene material.

"There's a lot of smoke and flames are going way up into the air," said Mr Hill.

He was not evacuated as he lived two kilometres away from the factory, although several evacuees living 500 metres from the factory had sought shelter in his home.

Mr Hill said some other evacuees had been asked to gather at Takaka Primary School one kilometre away from the factory while others were moved to Motupipi School, 5km away.

Mr Hill said the aftermath is likely to be grim.

"It's the biggest employer in Golden Bay and it's just going up in smoke so there's not going to be a lot of happy people around. We used to have the cement company and that's all closed down. The mills are down to one man bands and the factory's gone up in smoke."