A large scrub fire near the Desert Road is continuing to grow, with helicopter crews and firefighters working to bring it under control in the Waiouru military zone.
Fire crews responded to the blaze on the Central Plateau about 10.15am on Monday, Fire and Emergency shift manager Becca Jennings said, and it appeared to be a continuation of a fire from the previous day that had escalated.
By mid-afternoon Monday the flames covered an area about 400x400 metres, but it had spread to 238 hectares by the evening.
Five helicopter crews and nine firefighting crews were working on the blaze.
Its original cause was unknown.
The fire was in a fairly isolated area. There had been no reports of injuries and it did not pose a threat to the Desert Road or to buildings in the area, Jennings earlier said.
Motorists travelling on the Desert Road - State Highway 1 captured footage of large plumes of smoke just south and north of the Waiouru township.
