About 20 people evacuated from their homes at the height of the Waipoua Forest fire on Wednesday face an anxious wait to find out when they can return.
However iwi leader and general manager of Te Roroa Development Group, Snow Tane, said it was a huge relief that so far no homes had been lost and no one had been injured.
Tane said one person per household had been allowed back to Waipoua Settlement on Thursday to gather essential belongings ahead of a worsening forecast for fire conditions on Friday.
He said the residents returned to their homes in a convoy escorted by firefighters.
"It allowed people to go in and get some of their belongings, some of their medication. We had to remove stock, horses and dogs. It went well. It was only a short window, for about an hour, and then we had to be back out of the zone before it became more of a risk."
Tane, who also owns a house in the settlement, said the fleeting visit brought home just how close the flames came to taking everything people owned.
"We're talking metres… probably within 10 metres."
There were still a lot of hotspots around the settlement, but the containment crews were doing a good job making sure there was no risk to homes.
Tane said about a dozen evacuees were staying at Waikarā Marae, at Aranga, just south of the forest, where some ended up after fleeing to the safety off the beach and walking down the coast.
The rest were staying with whānau or at Taita Marae further south.
"There's a lot more comfort knowing they're in a safe environment, being hosted at Waikarā Marae. I think they're feeling safe there. Obviously, they're anxious about what's happening to their homes back at Waipoua Forest Settlement, but being in a safe place is the priority, and I think that's what the whānau down there appreciate."
Tane said he had been moved by the public response to the evacuees' plight.
The iwi had been swamped with donations of food including entire sides of mutton, clothing and koha, dropped off at its offices in Dargaville and the store in Waimamaku.
"Communities from right around Tai Tokerau [Northland] have been ringing in, and now we're getting inundated with food and clothing and those sorts of things. The response has been amazing and much appreciated. I think it's fantastic but it doesn't surprise me. I know that when people are in need, the whole community, Māori and non-Māori, get together and support one another."
Tane said the fire was concentrated in iwi-owned pine blocks, so the great kauri trees of Waipoua Forest were not under immediate threat.
"But the native forest isn't too far away so the biggest challenge for us is to contain the fire where it is, so it doesn't put that at risk."
Fire 50 percent contained
Fire and Emergency say the fire remains fifty percent contained heading into tonight.
The latest update said the fire is still at 96 hectares with a 4.5-kilometre perimeter.
Fire crews will work through the night to protect the 20 homes in the Waipoua settlement which so far have not been damaged.
There will be a reduction in the number of helicopters used tomorrow, downsizing from eight to three.
Those helicopters will be back in the air at first light tomorrow as firefighters on the ground continue to extend containment lines with the help of heavy machinery.
Emergency services are reminding the public to stay away from the area for their own safety.
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