Watch: Thick haze blankets Auckland CBD as acrid smoke pours from Queen St fire

November 20, 2017

A large fire which broke out at a building in Auckland's CBD has now been put out.

Fire crews were called to the large blaze which broke out at the Whitireia Community Polytechnic building at the top of Queen Street near Karangahape Road after 8am.

Fifty firefighters and numerous appliances attended the fire which is believed to have started in the institutes's kitchen.

When fire crews arrived at the building it was well involved fire area commander Richard Twomey told 1 NEWS.

The Whitireia Polytechnic building has emergency tape surrounding it as smoke billows from the building.

"When we arrived we were told be the building warden that there were people inside," Mr Twomey says.

Fire crews are now checking to see if everyone is accounted for.

Fire crews have taped off the area around the building and a crane was brought in to douse the flames.

Whitireia Polytechnic journalism tutor Myrddin Gwynedd told 1 NEWS he was standing outside the building with "a couple of hundred people" moments after the fire broke out.

He said there "definitely was a fire" as he saw "thick, acrid smoke billowing from the building".

Mr Gwynedd said he arrived at the polytechnic an hour ago, and the smoke looked to be coming from the entrance of the third floor of the building.

"Luckily there were very few people inside."

Although the polytechnic owns the building, the third floor is used for commercial purposes.

"It looks like the fire has been contained," he said.

"The word is the building won't be able to be entered for at least two days."

He said no one has been injured.

NZTA says Queen Street has been closed between Mayoral Drive and Karangahape Road and motorists should expect delays.

Fire investigators is on their way to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

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