Four separate fires were deliberately lit near a kiwi sanctuary on the West Coast early this morning, police say.
The fires, near the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, about 25km north of Franz Josef, were spotted from a helicopter about 3am.
The Fire Service arrived at the site about 3.30am, Constable Bill Parker of Franz Josef police said.
One of the fires spread over an area of about 500sqm, while the others were smaller, Mr Parker said.
A helicopter with a monsoon bucket was used to put out the blaze.
If the fires had spread into the Okarito Forest, the rowi kiwi living in the sanctuary could have been in danger, Mr Parker said.
The rowi was the rarest kiwi species, with a population of around 350.
Mr Parker said police enquiries were continuing.
