Thousands flee New Zealand fires

Thousands of people had to be evacuated from a New Zealand town yesterday as firefighters tackled a wildfire in the country’s South Island.

The blaze began six days ago near the city of Nelson.

A state of emergency was declared yesterday and around 3,000 people fled their homes in the district of Tasman.

The blaze is thought to be the worst forest fire in New Zealand since 1955.

Nelson MP Nick Smith said the entire region was a “tinderbox” and its 70,000 residents were “on edge”.

Twenty-three helicopters and two planes were deployed to tackle the blaze.