New Zealand's Fire and Emergency Service said on Saturday that fire crews have resumed efforts to contain an out-of-control bushfire in a national park in the central North Island, now estimated to cover over 1,000 hectares. Firefighters began tackling the blaze in the famous Tongariro National Park on Saturday afternoon, with around 40 people needing to be airlifted to safety. There have been no reports of property damage or further evacuations. West stated that "depending on what the aerial survey shows, it is expected to take a full day's operations to get the fire under control". However, firefighting efforts were suspended overnight for safety reasons, Reuters reports. Nick West, Assistant Commander of New Zealand's Fire and Emergency Services, said in a statement: "The fire has spread overnight", adding that an aerial survey scheduled for Sunday will confirm the extent of the fire's spread.
