Latest from Fires

Large scrub fire in Taupo

A scrub fire in Taupo which endangered buildings in the area this afternoon appears to have been deliberately lit.

Non-permitted fire threatened properties

A Welcome Bay resident who lit a non-permitted fire on his property which quickly got out of control at the weekend could be prosecuted or have to pay the bill for putting the fire out.

Big vegetation fire on Great Barrier Island

Firefighters have extinguished a large vegetation fire on Great Barrier Island overnight.

Fireworks blamed for Mt Eden crater fire

Fireworks are believed to have been responsible for a large fire in the crater of Auckland's Mt Eden early this morning.

Smoke turns skies over NZ orange

Skies around the country have been looking noticeably more hazy orange and bronze-coloured in the past few days as smoke from Australia's scorching bushfires reaches us.

Woman's lifesaving dash into smoke

A young woman raced into a smoke-filled corridor to warn neighbours about the fire engulfing their downtown Auckland apartment building after the smoke alarm system failed to go off.

Arson and accidents stretch fire services

Fires raged up and down the country yesterday stretching emergency services to "maximum capacity".

Rainfall eases firefighters' fears

Firefighters pray for monsoon

Australia's hopes are now focused on the monsoon finally forming over the north of the continent as more homes were lost to furious fires raging in above-40s temperatures and powerful hot winds yesterday.

Philip Gibbons: Claim political smokescreen

Coal-fired power stations in Australia emit around 200 million tonnes of CO2a year. This does not include emissions from our coal exports.

Resurgent fires raze homes

Australia's bushfire crisis has resumed with a fury after a brief weekend respite, yesterday claiming at least 33 homes in northern New South Wales with fears for more losses.

Australian fires: 'Perfect storm' destroys 28 homes

Suspicious house fire cause for concern

Earthquake follows Oz bushfires

Northland firefighters helping battle devastating bushfires in Tasmania have had to deal with another natural phenomenon - an earthquake.

Rain relief on the way for Canterbury

Farmers and landowners of "tinderbox dry" land on the outskirts of Christchurch should soon receive a reprieve with rain due to sweep in tomorrow.

Fire damages Hamilton house overnight

Cool change for NSW firefighters

A cool change has brought relief to NSW Rural Fire Service officers fighting bushfires across the state, however, about 30 fires remain uncontained.

Tinder-dry Canterbury still braced for fires

Tinder-dry conditions in Canterbury mean fire crews are remaining on high alert.