Firefighters were this evening still dampening down hotspots after a major fire at an Auckland lighting firm opposite St Lukes shopping Mall.

The blaze broke out at 10.45am at Modus Architectural Lighting in Wagener Place, across the road from St Lukes Mall.

Firefighters battled a blaze at a massage parlour in central Auckland this afternoon.

Extreme weather brings hope of end to decade-long drought.

Killer bushfires like those common in Australia could happen here if people continue to ignore warnings, an expert says.

A firefighter is angry that his bosses have been recognised with Queen's Service Medals, but not the men who risked their lives.

Fire crews are still dampening down hotspots after a bush fire destroyed one house and forced the evacuation of several others in Roxburgh overnight.

A large fireball erupted from the top of a building on Auckland's waterfront today, followed by billowing toxic smoke.

More fireworks than Guy Fawkes, and plenty of Chinese lanterns, kept Bay of Plenty firefighters hugely busy last night.

A lethal combination of soaring temperatures and high winds gave the New South Wales bushfire season a vicious jolt with more than 80 fires raging across the state.

The sentencing of two companies and a company director over a fatal coolstore explosion in the Waikato has given firefighters closure.

Big fines and reparation bills have been given to two companies and a company director charged over last year's fatal Waikato coolstore fire.