Weather

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

The fire in Tasman continues to rage, the government announcing earlier today that there will be support for the community affected. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted the area is "dry as a bone". Audio