Focus: Drone shows the extent of damage from the large blaze at Antonio Hall, Christchurch. Video by Marco Tyler-Rodrigue and Marcus Devine.

Investigations are under way into the fire that has devastated the heritage building.

Eight crews and around 32 firefighters were at the fire on Belmont Rd.

An explosion was heard at the cordon shortly after 9.30am.

Fifteen crews attended the rubbish fire in Onehunga.

Emergency services were called to the accident about 32km north of Lake Taupo.

Firefighters had to dodge exploding rockets to douse a spectacular fire that destroyed containers of fireworks stored for sale on the Fourth of July. / Video / AP

The latest Northland news in brief.

Eight fire engines were at the scene when the blaze was at full strength.

One person is in Auckland Hospital with serious injuries.

The elderly man had lived alone in the boardinghouse for many years, its owner said.

The blaze was on the second level of a three-storey guesthouse on Moa St.

Waikato DHB has 14 buildings with failed building WoFs

Fire investigator has arrived to determine cause of the blaze.

Skydive Wellington, Wairarapa Aero Club pilots reportedly involved in crash.

One of the people killed in the crash was a year 12 pupil who had recently left school.

Emergency services were called to the property on Venus Street shortly after 8 o'clock.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the cemetery this morning.

The small fibreglass boat produced a surprising amount of smoke.

Scout leaders and a parent tried in vain to fight the inferno with the marae's fire hose.

Fire services called after smoke was seen coming from a house on Braemar St.

A large group of people were evacuated from the marae, which caught fire around midnight.

A fire at Auckland central police station has forced the relocation of some staff.

Blaze breaks out at police station gym

Police are investigating the cause of an explosion that put a person in hospital.

Fire destroys home in Wanaka.