Firefighters in Northland have contained a fire that had taken hold in 50 hectares of scrubland near the Far North township of Ahipara.
The Fire Service says two helicopters along with five rural crews and 10 appliances are fighting the blaze in Shipwreck Bay, south of Ahipara.
A spokesman says the fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at at one stage threatened houses near the township but the helicopters had managed to contain it and there had been no need to evacuate residents.
The fire crews, which include volunteer firefighters from around the Far North, are expected to remain at the scene through Thursday night and possibly into Friday morning.
