Two arrested over 'suspicious' new Tasman fire

Two people have been arrested in relation to a suspicious fire in the Tasman District.

The pair was seen "acting suspiciously" in a rural forestry block in Upper Moutere at 2pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Local contractors were alarmed by their behaviour as they weren't far from the scene of last week's forest fire, and they immediately called police.

The suspects fled the area in a vehicle, prompting a co-ordinated search between Fire and Emergency NZ and Tasman Police. A helicopter was re-deployed to track them down.

They were found some kilometres away just before 3pm, thanks to helicopter crew passing on real-time information on their whereabouts.

There have been reports the two suspects were found in a nearby nudist colony, but this has not yet been confirmed by police.

Police say they were taken into custody without incident, and are speaking to officers about the fire.

No charges have yet been laid.

Newshub.