More than 1,400 people from Wellington’s Majestic Centre have been evacuated after a fire broke out on an upper level.
Senior station officer Steve Mackle says it was an electrical fire in an office on level 22 which has since been extinguished.
Consultancy firm Ernst & Young is one of the occupants of level 22.
Mr Mackle described the smell from the fire as “acrid” which spread upwards. Five different floors in the building made calls to emergency services.
The fire service has removed a number of walls and the ceiling around the fire to prevent it spreading and smoke damage to the upper floors has been confirmed.
It is the city's tallest building, towering 29 storeys high.
Mr Mackle says the cause of the fire is not known.
Around 10 fire trucks are at the scene, including two ladder units. Three crews fought the fire and five were there in a supporting role.
No smoke was seen coming from the building but around 1,400 were evacuated onto central Wellington streets.
Half of the building has been checked and occupants will be able to re-enter the building in the next 15 minutes.
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