Fire and Emergency NZ says multiple fire crews are arriving at Matakana Island early this morning by barge following a large forest fire on Saturday night. Two helicopters are also flying over the island this morning.

Crew from Matakana Island and Greerton brigades remained on scene overnight to monitor the fire.

Fire and Emergency Shift Manager Garreth Lewis says they were alerted to a forest fire on Matakana Island at 7.36pm on Saturday.

He says the fire in south Matakana was "approximately 300 metres by 300 metres and its very visible from the mainland".

The fire on Matakana Island, seen from Matua on Saturday evening. Photo: Josh Kelly.

The large fire plume has been seen from across Tauranga, with SunLive readers in Pahoia, Matua and Maungatapu saying on Saturday night they could see it from their properties.

On Sunday morning, Matua residents woke to find ash and the smell of smoke around their properties.

Matakana Island, seen from Matua on Sunday morning. Photo: Cameron Avery.

"It's [The fire's] gotten quite a lot larger," says a SunLive reader living in Matua. 

"[It's] hard to see be because of cloud and light rain. Woke up to the strong smell of the smoke.

"And ash has been falling. Can see it on cars and on my deck in Matua."

Ash on a car in Matua on Sunday morning. Photo: Cameron Avery.

On Sunday morning, MetService is forecasting some light morning rain for the day ahead, then a few showers from around midday, possibly heavy.  There is a low northerly breeze flowing across the Tauranga harbour this morning.

Fire and Emergency NZ will provide a further update at around 9am today.

"We are also asking people to stay away from the area," says Gareth.

It is nearly three years to the day since a large fire broke out on Matakana Island on December 13, 2020.

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz

The fire on Matakana Island, seen from Matua on Saturday evening. Photo: Cameron Avery.