Up to eight helicopters and nine fire appliances were tonight fighting multiple blazes that threaten at least one building near Waipiata in the Maniototo, Otago, tonight.
Lighting strikes are thought to have caused the fires between Waipiata and Kokonga.
Rural command public information officer Valda Jordan said a command unit had been set-up to help co-ordinate the situation.
All the helicopters would be stood down soon once it was too dark to continue.
Around 8.30pm there was no indication of how big the fire was, she said.