Civil Defence

The massive fire in the Tasman district is volatile and growing with wind change potentially threatening homes. Light winds are forecast today but conditions are tinder-dry and the risk remains… Audio

Fire crews and helicopters are battling a blaze in Ahipara, near Kaitaia. Fire and Emergency was alerted to the five hectare blaze about one thirty this morning. It says four houses have been… Audio

Back to the bushfires in the Tasman District which are still volatile, with homes coming under threat when the wind changes. Authorities have just given a briefing. Alex Ashton is there. Audio

Civil Defence has told Wakefield School in the Tasman District to close today. Principal Peter Verstappen told Morning Report's Alex Ashton the town is still waiting for a call to evacuate. Audio

After dark in Teapot Valley, where the fire has spread, helicopters fighting the flames had to stop flying and the fire was left to its own devices. Dorje Strang farms in the valley and while his… Audio

Dennis Bush-King is the Nelson Tasman civil defence controller. He joins Gyles Beckford with an update. Audio

It's been an anxious night for people living in Teapot Valley near the big Nelson fire. There've been no forced evacuations but residents were told last night to be ready to go at short notice. Many… Audio

Twenty-two helicopters are fighting the fire, dropping monsoon bucket after monsoon bucket of water on flare-ups and controlling the expanding perimeter. Two of those pilots, Alan and David Beck, have… Audio

Tasman's deputy mayor says the flow-on effects of the large forest fire are beginning to show. Residents in parts of Wakefield, south of Richmond, have been on alert through the night in case the need… Audio

A Civil Defence Emergency is still in place for Tasman. So far only one home has been confirmed to be destroyed but Fire Emergency New Zealand says they haven't been able to assess the damage in… Audio

Residents in parts of Wakefield near Nelson have been on alert through the night in case they need to evacuate as the bushfire continues to rage into its fourth day. The warning to prepare to leave… Audio

Low rainfall, high sunshine hours, a heatwave and widespread dry conditions have been described as perfect conditions for a fire in Nelson which has burned for the last three days. This week NIWA… Audio

Police and emergency services have been on the streets of Wakefield overnight, ready to call for an evacuation if the fire threatens homes. Residents in some parts were told to prepare to leave and to… Audio

Dozens of people have been evacuated from Teapot Valley southwest of Nelson after a flare-up in the fire late on Thursday afternoon. But Dorje Strang who farms in the valley is determined to stay. His… Audio

Residents in parts of Wakefield near Nelson have been on alert through the night in case the need to evacuate. The warning to prepare to leave went out late last evening to people living between… Audio

What do you take when you know you could lose it all? Tasman evacuees Ian and Maureen Grage describe what they packed as the fire approached, before they were forced to leave their homes behind. Video, Audio

The wind has intensified and changed direction, forcing the evacuation of another 25 properties, this time in Teapot Valley. But Tasman Fire Incident Controller John Sutton says they're still… Audio

Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi says an "initial" contribution of $20,000 for the Tasman mayoral relief fund is sufficient at the moment and will be reassessed if matters get worse. He spoke with… Audio