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A major bushfire continues to challenge firefighters in Queensland's Western Downs region as blazes damage dozens of structures in the regional area.

Emergency warnings have been downgraded to watch and act notices for residents to the north of the small town of Miles, about 300km northwest of Brisbane.

An uncontained fire in the area is travelling towards Archinalls Road, Hookswood Pelham Road and Ryalls Road and could pose a threat to lives.

The 26,000-hectare fire is the main concern for authorities, but a QFES spokesman said only two sheds and farming equipment had been destroyed in the blaze.

Several grazing properties are in the area and the fire is burning in drought-affected forest country with a lot of dead trees and "a lot of available fuel", Queensland Rural Fire Service superintendent Wayne Waltisbuhl said on Tuesday.

The blaze grew from 2300 to 26,000 hectares and firefighters went into "defensive mode" to protect properties before looking at containment strategies with earthmoving equipment, he said.

Warnings have been downgraded for two other fires burning to the south and east of the Miles blaze.

One large fire is burning in Fairyland and Burra Burri, near Jandowae, and travelling from Nudley State Forest towards Moran Creek Road.

A second is affecting parts of Montrose and Wieambilla, near Tara.

Residents who had left the area were advised they could return but to be aware of unstable buildings and hot embers.

The Tara fire is also believed to have impacted at least 20 structures, including homes and sheds.

QFES crews across the state have been called in and aircraft are helping the firefighting effort.

No fatalities or significant injuries have been reported.

The fire danger for the region remains high, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with forecast temperatures of up to 36 degrees on Wednesday.

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New Zealand's death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle is at least one person but poised to rise, with rescue efforts unable to assist a woman trapped in a collapsed home under a landslip.

On Wednesday morning, Hawke's Bay civil defence authorities confirmed the death of a woman in Putorino, a small town north of Napier.

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) were first alerted to the landslip early on Tuesday morning, but were unable to attend due to flooding.

FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory suggested further deaths from the mammoth storm had been confirmed across the country.

"Overnight there's been reports of further fatalities across the country," he said from a briefing in Auckland on Wednesday morning.

"Our hearts go out to the families of those who have potentially lost their lives last night. It's a really difficult time for New Zealand."

Late on Tuesday, police confirmed a body had been found on the beach on Bay View, just north of Napier.

A police spokeswoman told AAP it had not yet been tied to the effects of Gabrielle, with inquiries ongoing to establish circumstances and identification.

A volunteer firefighter was also trapped in a collapsed house in Muriwai, on Auckland's west coast, for more than 24 hours, with bad weather preventing a search until late on Tuesday.

FENZ spokesman said they would use all the tools at their disposal - including thermal imaging, tracker dogs - to find the man.

"The longer the search goes on for the firefighter, we've got grave concerns for the safety of our firefighter ... (but) no one has given up hope," Mr Monrad said.

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New Zealand's death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle is at least two but poised to rise, with rescue efforts unable to assist a woman trapped in a collapsed home under a landslip.

On Wednesday morning, Hawke's Bay civil defence authorities confirmed the death of a woman in Putorino, a small town 50 kilometres north of Napier.

Fire and Emergency NZ were first alerted to the landslip early on Tuesday morning, but were unable to attend due to flooding.

FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory suggested further deaths from the mammoth storm would be likely across the country.

"Overnight there's been reports of further fatalities across the country," he said from a briefing in Auckland on Wednesday morning.

"Our hearts go out to the families of those who have potentially lost their lives last night. It's a really difficult time for New Zealand."

A second death was confirmed in Muriwai, on Auckland's west coast, where FENZ was searching for a volunteer firefighter trapped in a collapsed house since Monday night.

Formal identification of the body is yet to take place.

Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said he didn't have an expectation the death toll would rise but "it wouldn't surprise".

"Obviously we hope that that doesn't happen. But this is a serious event that already led to two deaths ... there are still rescues to happen," he said.

On Tuesday, police confirmed a body had been found on the beach on Bay View, just north of Napier, a region with heavy floods.

However, a police spokeswoman told AAP it had not yet been tied to the effects of Gabrielle, with inquiries ongoing.

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The head of the Reserve Bank will front a parliamentary committee following the ninth interest rate hike to counter inflation.

Philip Lowe will be questioned by the economics legislation committee on Wednesday.

Last week, the Reserve Bank lifted interest rates to 3.35 per cent, in the latest increase in this policy cycle.

The bank foreshadowed more interest rate rises to rein in inflation, which grew by 7.8 per cent annually in the December quarter.

The interest rate rises have been driving up home loan repayments, with the federal government concerned about the 800,000 mortgage holders on fixed rates yet to feel the full brunt of increasing rates.

The future of the RBA's leadership has also come under question ahead of the treasurer's decision on whether to extend his term in the second half of 2023.

Several MPs, including Labor backbenchers, have questioned the future of Dr Lowe based on the RBA's predictions issued during the pandemic that interest rates would not rise until 2024.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has refused to comment on Dr Lowe's future as Reserve Bank governor.

The RBA is also subject to an independent inquiry, with the findings due in March.

© AAP 2023