Fire burns through 80 hectares of Waikato swampland

Fire crews are still fighting a large vegetation fire that has burned through around 80 hectares in scrub and wetlands near Meremere, northern Waikato.

Firefighters were called to the blaze after midday Monday, with a cause yet to been confirmed.

It is still not under control, meaning it is spreading.

Six helicopters, supported by ground crews filling monsoon buckets are still battling the blaze.

Incident commander Shane Bromley said the fire front was now 5 kilometres wide, after being alerted to the blaze off Island Block Road around 1.15pm on Monday.

The DOC is providing support and advice about the conservation values of the wetland.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.