Smoke billows near Coromandel beach as firefighters battle blaze

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is at the scene of a scrub fire in Kūaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula this evening.

FENZ told 1News it was called to the scene at 3.54pm.

"We have seven appliances at two helicopters on scene," said a FENZ spokesperson.

"The fire is 300 metres by 600 metres and is mainly fuelled by pine flash and regrowth."

Photos from the scene show smoke billowing from the blaze.