A woman has been found on Browns Island an, uninhabited Hauraki Gulf island where firefighters are battling a huge blaze.
The woman, who was unhurt, was found by firefighters after 9pm last night - but mystery surrounds who she is and how she came to be on the island. She has been taken to the Auckland mainland.
The fire on Browns Island is still burning fiercely with half the island in flames.
Fresh fire crews and helicopters are fighting the blaze as it continues to burn more than 13 hours after the alarm was raised.
Strong winds in the Hauraki Gulf are now fanning the flames with the fire burning across 8ha.
Large plumes of smoke can be seen from vantage points along Auckland's eastern coastline.
Auckland principal rural fire officer Scott Marchant said half the island was burning.
"It's running too fast for our ground crews to put out," he said.
Two helicopters carrying monsoon buckets were now on the scene. Additional firefighter reinforcements are expected from Parnell, Birkenhead and Mt Roskill stations.
Northern Fire Communications' shift manager Scott Osmond said fire crews had tried to contain the large vegetation fire overnight but it had continued to spread.
Mr Osmond said helicopters would be used this morning to combat the fire and fresh fire crews were now being ferried to the island to replace those who had been fighting the fire from the perimeter overnight.
The fire had spread from an initial 50 by 50sqm to 150 by 300sqm by 11pm. Authorities were alerted just before 7.30pm.
Last night more than 20 firefighters, transported to the island by police launch, were battling the fire and more were on the way, Mr Osmond said.
Helicopters were not used last night for safety reasons.
Mr Osmond said it was mainly grass burning on the volcanic island.
There was no information yet on what may have caused the fire.
Browns Island is a pest-free volcanic reserve close to central Auckland. It is also known as Motukorea.
According to the Department of Conservation (Doc) website, the 60ha island has been an important part of Auckland's early history.
Historic sites cover much of the island and include Maori pa sites, gardens and settlements, some several hundred years old.
Other sites are associated with early European settlement, according to the department.
The island is managed by Doc and the Auckland Council to protect its historic landscape and volcanic features.
