File photo. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
A person has been taken into police custody after a suspicious house fire in Takaka at the top of the South Island.
The fire, which badly damaged the home in Upper Takaka, was reported to Fire and Emergency NZ at about 3.30am.
Fire and Emergency said the house was well ablaze when firefighters arrived.
A fire investigator was on the way to the site of the fire.
Fire and Emergency said they were not aware of any injuries.