Fire at Hawke's Bay Airport

 Hawke's Bay Airport was evacuated this morning after a small fire resulted in smoke billowing through the terminal.

Airport chief executive Nick Story said the fire started in the Air New Zealand staff room about 7am but a quick response from the Fire Service and on-site staff meant it was put out before spreading.

''Smoke just billowed straight through the terminal,'' he said.

The airport, with about 50 people inside, was evacuated. An Air New Zealand plane to Wellington was delayed by up to 45 minutes after passengers were asked to disembark. It could could not take off because fire crews were on the runway apron.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The fire broke out in a lunch room of the airport terminal in Westshore, shortly before 7am, a Fire Service spokesman said.

There were no reported injuries and the cause was not immediately known.

Three fire engines attended.

There was a strong smell of smoke through the terminal, but this was dissipating this morning.

Tukituki MP Craig Foss tweeted a photo of passengers disembarking on to the tarmac at the airport.

He then wrote: "Emergency over. Getting back on plane now. No more smoke from terminal."

Rod Drury, chief executive of accounting software firm Xero, was one of those asked to leave a plane but said on Twitter that everyone was fine.

The airport's website is not notifying any delays this morning. 

Sources: 

http://tvnz.co.nz

http://www.stuff.co.nz