A Civil Defence Emergency has been declared on the Chatham Islands, as the remnants of Cyclone Pam head towards the islands while a wildfire continues to burn.

Everyone living north of the Chathams' airport turn off is being evacuated to a welfare centre at Kopinga Marae.

The worry is not only due to high seas but also due to the risk of the storm's wind causing the fire to flare up

Civil Defence staff on the island are meeting again now.

Ex-tropical cyclone Pam is expected to deepen as it moves towards the Chathams - and is expected to be at its closest by midday tomorrow, bringing wind gusts of up to 160 kilometres an hour - and potentially damaging sea swells.