Farmers say the devastating fire ravaging through the South Island's Lake Ohau, has been a disaster waiting to happen.
At least 20 homes have been destroyed and more than 90 residents evacuated from Lake Ohau Village following the fire, which started during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Evacuations continued into the night north of the village, with another six properties evacuated.
Four fire appliances have been on the ground overnight protecting houses and other buildings.
Reporter Anan Zaki is in the nearby town of Twizel in the Mackenzie Country where an evacuation welfare centre has been set up.
