A no-fly zone was enforced over an area of Papamoa after an excavator working on the Tauranga Eastern Link construction project ruptured a gas main.
The excavator hit the main at the intersection of Domain and Tara roads just before 2pm.
The Fire Service ordered the 1km wide and 3000 ft high no-fly zone while the rupture was inspected.
Fire Service northern communications manager Jaron Phillips said a hazadous materials team and four fire appliances had responded to the incident and were attempting to isolate the broken gas main.
Domain Rd was closed diversions were in place.
