A police spokesperson said they were aware of the incident but were not required.
Three helicopters and firefighters from six brigades are tackling the blaze, with the terrain too rough for ground operations.
Hurunui Mayor Marie Black told the Herald it appeared to be a large grass fire.
She was not aware of housing or buildings at risk.
“Of course it’s concerning to the community to manage these crises,” she said.
Given it had been relatively dry, the community had been careful about the fire risk.
“This is something we will continue to be mindful of as we head into the summer months.”