A 59-year-old firefighter died after a falling tree struck him while he was battling wildfires in Bulahdelah, New South Wales, where fires are burning in more than 50 locations and have destroyed 20 homes. In Tasmania, 19 houses have also been lost.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the death a reminder of the risks emergency workers face.
In New Zealand, a separate wildfire near Tongariro National Park has spread to 110 hectares, forcing a highway closure as crews and helicopters work to contain the blaze