Bushfire

More than four months after it formed, a large blob of sooty dust from Australia's massive bushfires is still circling the southern hemisphere. Audio

Nearly a quarter of a million people have been asked to evacuate their homes, with some communities in Victoria given less than an hour to leave amid fire danger in Australia. Temperatures above 40… Audio

Residents in fire-affected Australian states are doing their best to prepare for another potential onslaught as the conditions heat up. Kim Savage spoke with New Zealander Melinda Loe, who runs a tour… Audio

It's estimated half a billion animals have perished in the Australian wildfires with volunteers scrambling to rescue those left behind. New South Wales woman Lucy Hoy has been setting up food and… Audio

Four people remain missing in Victoria and at least 200 homes have been destroyed. A plan to fly three hundred people out of the East Gippsland town of Mallacoota has been abandoned for the day… Audio

Given the devastation and the geographical spread of bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland this week, a risk reduction expert has warned that Australia needs to prepare for ongoing disasters… Audio

10.30 Bushfires continue to rage in Australia

Across the Tasman, fires continue to burn in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Brisbane.

In Queensland firefighters face hot… Audio

People living in the outskirts of Sydney have been warned there are not enough fire engines to serve every house, and not to expect help to come if they call for it, as catastrophic wildfire… Audio

Firefighters are expecting to be battling the Nelson-Tasman fire for weeks to come, while businesses and farmers in the area are counting the cost. Nita Blake-Persen reports from Tasman, where the… Video, Audio

Two community meetings are being held in Nelson tonight to brief the public on the latest on the Nelson-Tasman fire. Reporter Logan Church joins Checkpoint live from the first meeting at Appleby… Audio

Wakefield residents are being allowed to return to their homes for the first time in days, but are being warned to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Video, Audio

The massive fire in the Tasman district is volatile and growing with wind change potentially threatening homes. Light winds are forecast today but conditions are tinder-dry and the risk remains… Audio

A huge swath of bush and pine plantations have been destroyed by a bushfire in the Nelson region. Tinder dry conditions and the continuing hot Summer have created the perfect conditions for this fire… Audio

RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal with the latest on the massive fire in the Tasman district. Audio