At least three shops are ablaze in the main street of Paeora.

Lower Hutt man Maurice Costello was passing through the town on Wednesday when he saw the drama unfold.

'Initially it was one shop, an art gallery I think, and the owners were standing outside. They went next door to get a fire extinguisher and then the fire jumped over to the other shops,” Costello says.

Costello, 83, says the fire was ripping through at least three shops.

A shop worker at the Ebony Boutique, Paeroa, who wanted to remain anonymous says it'as 'total destruction”.

They say three shops have been destroyed by the blaze and fire and emergency crews are tending to the flames, but they say the situation is 'just a shambles”.

'There's smoke and flames bellowing everywhere, burning the footpath.

'It's a huge fire”.

Fire and Emergency NZ are unable to provide details due to technical difficulties.

NZTA say all roads are now open in relation to the incident after Normanby Rd was previously closed between Corbett St and SH26 in Paeroa.

Motorists are advised to follow a detour via Corbett St on to Willoughby St on to Arney St (SH26) then back on to SH2.

-Stuff.