Photo: 123RF
Fire has destroyed a water-front house in Cooks Beach in the Coromandel Peninsula and has spread to a neighbouring property.
Fire and Emergency was alerted at around 12.30pm Saturday.
A spokesperson said the original blaze in the two-storey house is under control.
Hotspots are being dampened down at the second property, which is also two storeys high.
A third nearby house escaped any damage.