A fire between Canvastown and Rye Valley late last night prompted the evacuation fo about 30 residents to a local marae

Dozens of households had to be evacuated in Marlborough last night because of a large forest fire. The Fire Service says it was alerted to the fire between Canvastown and Rye Valley about 10.30.

Marlborough assistant rural area fire manager Tim Bennion says crews found the fire much bigger than anticipated on arrival. They evacuated about a dozen houses and some 30 people who spent the night on a local marae. They have now been allowed to return home because the fire has changed direction.

Mr Bennion says the principal rural fire officer is up in a helicopter this morning assessing the extent of the fire, which is estimated to cover 30 hectares. there are also plans for four helicopters to assist six ground crews taking over from night crews.

As Cyclone Tomas moves south east away from Fiji leaving extensive devastation, an Air Force Hercules is flying in aid

An Air Force Hercules is on its way Fiji carrying much-needed food rations and other emergency supples.

Cyclone Tomas is moving south east away from the group of Pacific islands, but it remains unclear just how much damage the cyclone has left in its wake. A state of disaster has been declared, and it is feared there will have been a number of deaths.

As well as helping to distribute aid locally, the Hercules will fly a reconnaissance mission over the outer northern islands worst hit by the storm. Communications to those remote islands are still down.

The eye of Cyclone Tomas is moving away from the Lau group of islands to the south-east and should be across open water later this morning.

The New Zealand government has an Air Force Hercules standing by to fly aid to Fiji ad cyclone Tomas moves south-east

Fiji is already looking at help from New Zealand in the wake of Cyclone Tomas: an Air Force Hercules is on stand-by to head to the islands as Cyclone Tomas moves away from the most populated areas.

Fiji's Disaster Management Centre spokesman Anthony Blake says they are in the process of assessing the damage, to determine the help they need. He says they will take up offers of help from Australia, New Zealand and other countries.

Mr Blake says they need water containers, tarpaulins, tents and logistical support.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs officials say the Hercules will carry emergency supplies to Fiji and will also assist with aerial reconnaissance of outer islands that were in the path of Cyclone Tomas.

Some evacuation centres in Fiji are running out of food. There are 17 thousand people sheltering in 178 evacuation centres around the country.

Radio Fiji news editor Stanley Simpson says the evacuation centres on Vanua Levu in particular are having problems with food shortages. He says when Cyclone Tomas was on its way four days ago, people were asked to take their own food supplies to the shelter, but those supplies are now running out.

Political differences will be put aside as New Zealand does all it can to help cyclone-ravaged Fiji.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says officials here are working closely with our partners under FRANZ, the joint France, Australia and New Zealand disaster relief arrangement. He says the best way will be found to respond to the situation in Fiji.

An Auckland mayor says heads must roll at the War Memorial Museum, whose director Vanda Vitali has resigned amid tension

The mayor of Waitakere City is calling for heads to roll over Vanda Vitali's resignation.

After months of tension, the Auckland War Memorial Museum director has reached what is being described as a mutual decision with the museum's board to step down.

But Bob Harvey says Auckland has lost one of the best museum directors this country has ever seen, and the board must be held accountable for that loss. He says the situation has been 'mishandled from day one' and he has no hesitation in asking for the board's resignation.

Mr Harvey is meeting the other Auckland mayors next week to discuss the issue.

Speculation has been rife for some time that the board was unhappy with Dr Vitali's performance. That was particularly evident following a high-profile stoush with Sir Edmund Hillary's family over his memorabilia. Mr Harvey says the museum board has not been able to deal with a person of Dr Vitali's calibre with a high level of professionalism.

Eastern and northern parts of Fiji under state of emergency as Cyclone Tomas pounds the country's Lau group of islands

Fiji has declared a state of emergency on the eastern and northern parts of the country .

Cyclone Tomas is pounding the country's Lau group of islands.

Disaster Management Centre spokesman Anthony Blake says staff are still try to assess the full extent of damage.

"At the moment, we have no reports of injuries. However, the fatality that was reported on Friday still stands at one. This is a very significant point to note and we must commend the people of Fiji for taking heed of the warnings."

Mr Blake says some hospitals and airports have been damaged and communications are still down in parts of the country.