Firefighters have controlled a forest fire near Cape Reinga which came within metres of houses.
About 15 to 20 hectares of already harvested forest was burnt in the blaze north of Te Kao, about 45 kilometres from the cape.
The fire, which started around 5.30pm yesterday, came within metres of houses early on but the occupants were not evacuated.
Two helicopters, a digger and a bulldozer were used in the firefight.
Rural fire fighters spent the night at the scene.
NZN