The rural fire authority says a scrub blaze on the south coast of the Wellington region was started by an abandoned car being set alight.
The fire covered about eight hectares at the south end of Wainuiomata Coast Road but firefighters were confident they now have it contained.
One helicopter was helping fight the blaze and about 30 rural firefighters were working on the ground.
Deputy principal fire officer for the Wellington region, Peter Walker, said the fire appeared to have spread from a car left to burn on the beach.
The fire started about 2am.