The historic ship Tui has gone up in flames in the Bay of Islands

The blaze broke out on the three-masted timber ship -- the first home of Kelly Tarlton's shipwreck museum -- about 4am.

No one's on board, but the ship's been badly damaged.

Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell says earlier footage from the scene showed the ship completely engulfed in bright orange flames.

Fire and Emergency says the fire is generating smoke, and Paihia and Waitangi locals should avoid the area and keep windows shut.