Large blaze at Botany Town Centre in Auckland under control

A large fire at a cinema in east Auckland has been brought under control, with firefighters now concentrating on hotspots.

Staff at the Botany Downs Hoyts cinema noticed smoke in the three storey building just before 9:30am and alerted Fire and Emergency.

The cinema is attached to the mall and shoppers and some staff had to evacuate.

FENZ says the blaze started in an air-conditioning unit on the roof of the cinema and an aerial appliance was used to tackle it from above while firefighters concentrated on other areas of the building, including inside.

Black smoke billowing into the sky could be seen from a wide area of the city and fire crews from neighbouring areas were brought in help.

• Do you have photos? Send your images of the fire to iwitness@rnz.co.nz

A worker at the Botany Town Centre said about a hundred people were standing outside the mall and officials were telling people move away.

The worker said it was a shocking sight.

A fire inspector is still at the scene.

Motirists in the area are being warned traffic could be affected by road closures and diversions this afternoon.