Firefighting efforts on Matakana Island will continue until at least Wednesday, Fire and Emergency says.

The blaze, which broke out on Saturday night, has already burnt through more than 37 hectares of scrub and pine slash.

It was contained on Sunday night but 30 firefighters and three helicopters continue to work through to keep it under control with fire breaks.

Incident controller Jeff Maunder says in some areas the fire is burning underground in the roots of large trees.

"The fire is contained within a secure perimeter, but there are pockets of vegetation and tree stumps that are still smouldering and could reignite if not fully extinguished."

Jeff says drones would be deployed overnight using thermal imaging to identify hotspots so that those areas could be targeted on Tuesday.

Resident Hauata Palmer says the fire doesn't appear to pose a danger to residents.

The fire is closer to the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean, whereas most residents live on the other side, says Hauata.

The community is currently not affected by the smoke, because the wind has been blowing the smoke away from the settlements, she says.

Visibility was reduced as firefighters worked to put out the blaze on December 24. Photo: Supplied / Fire and Emergency Bay of Plenty.

Residents in nearby Tauranga say they have been able to see the fire from the town, and some even felt the smoke drifting over.

"There has been smoke and stuff come over and I've had other people complaining about respiratory ailments that, you know, they couldn't hang the washing on the line or had to shut all the windows and turn the air con on," says resident Leanne Swinburne.

Fire crews have been very swift in tackling the blaze, she says.

Boats have been regularly stopping off at the island to drop off firefighters, she says.

"I think that everyone's done as much as they could with the resources they have. I mean there's only one fire truck, I believe, on the island itself ... they did everything as fast as they could, I don't think there's anything that could've been done any better or faster."

-RNZ.