A large firefighting effort is underway in Taranaki after a vegetation fire broke out in New Plymouth.
The fire in Bell Block spread smoke across the suburb and the nearby township of Waitara.
Helicopters were filling buckets of water off the Taranaki coastline to contribute to the battle.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said calls to a vegetation fire at the Taranaki Cycle path in New Plymouth were received at around 2:20pm
"We have three urban trucks, two tankers fighting the fire at present ," a spokesperson said.
One person at the scene said two helicopters joined in the effort for about two hours. "Smoke was clearly visible from Mōkau."
RNZ reported that firefighters were telling spectators to leave the area, and a crew from Waitara was blocking access to the beach.
A FENZ spokesperson said just before 6pm that four rural trucks were in attendance.
"The fire is under control and we are just dampening down hot spots."
Police said they would work with Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators to determine the circumstances of the fire.
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