UPDATED: 9.25pm A 500sqm vegetation fire was raging near Uretiti Beach DOC campsite, just south of Ruakaka.

The fire service was called to the scene about 6.50pm, Northern fire communications shift manager Dallas Ramsay said.

Four fire engines and a tanker were being used to battle the blaze and a chopper was on its way at 7.50pm.

The fire is now "contained", ground crews were standing by and the chopper was beginning used to fight the fire.

The blaze was north of the campground and its occupants were unaffected, Ramsay said.

It was unclear how many people were at the campsite.