A helicopter is trawling Matakana Island, near Tauranga, where a forest fire continues to burn

Crews were called to the scene at about 7:30 last night, with people being urged to stay away from the area.

Fire and Emergency says the blaze is approximately 300 by 300 metres.

Bay of Plenty Times journalist Alex Cairns is there, and says yesterday seemed more 'dramatic' with visible flames of a yellow glow.

Today, he says there's a sizeable patch of white smoke, with yellow tints.