A restaurant on the main street of Whanganui has been badly damaged by fire, while a blaze in central Christchurch has been confirmed to be non-fatal.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Police and fire investigators will be returning to the scene today of an overnight fire in central Christchurch.
The Fire Service was called to a fire at a building on Stanley Street just before 11pm, which took five crews three hours to put out.
There were fears there may have been squatters in the building, but the Fire Service was able to confirm no one was inside.
A guard was posted at the building overnight.
Meanwhile, a restaurant on Whanganui's main street has also been badly damaged by fire.
The Fire Service said crews were called to the Angora Restaurant and Cafe on Victoria Street just after 1am this morning.
The fire took about three hours to put out.