Wildfire turns from NZ homes

– A large New Zealand wildfire is expected to burn for weeks longer but has moved away from some inhabited areas, allowing residents of an evacuated village to return home soon, firefighters said yesterday.

About 3 000 inhabitants of Wakefield, just outside Nelson at the top of South Island, were ordered out on Saturday as flames razed bushland within two kilometres of their homes. The fire erupted early last week amid scorching conditions in the forested area. By early yesterday, it had swept through an estimated 2 300 hectares. –

Wellington