Fire fighters have brought a large scrub fire in Kaitaia under control and the local airport has now reopened.
Fire shift manager Paul Radden said the fire covers about three hectares of mature tea trees, scrub and grass on a rural property in Quarry Road.
Four trucks, a water tanker, and two helicopters are working to put it out.
Mr Radden said the fire has been contained but is not under control.
Kaitaia's deputy chief fire officer, Craig Rogers, said no buildings are in danger.
"Our biggest issue is that it's fanned from a wind that's about 30 knots. So every time we get a bit of water on it to put it out it comes back into life."
The airport said it closed because there was too much smoke on the runway, but no flights have been disrupted yet. The next flight is scheduled for 7pm.
A nearby school, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, has been evacuated to a nearby marae, where its 144 students can be picked up by their parents.
