Six helicopters are fighting a fire in a forestry block in the Tangimoana forest in Manawatu which has burnt through 40 hectares.
Emergency crews were called to the fire half way between Himatangi and Tangimoana at 6pm on Thursday evening.
Heavy machinery is being used to create fire-breaks as the wind is expected to pick up later this morning.
A further 30 firefighters arrived at the scene at 8am this morning.