Two arrested over Whangarei bush fire

Whangarei police have arrested two men and charged them with lighting a scrub fire.

The city and surrounding area have been hit by suspicious fires in recent weeks but police district commander Inspector Paul Dimery said the two arrests, made last weekend, related only to a small vegetation fire in Western Hills Drive.

The pair, aged 24 and 21, face charges of setting fire to vegetation, intentionally damaging a signpost and obstructing and resisting police. They have appeared in court and been remanded to March 1.