Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A person has died following a house fire in Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast on Sunday night.
A blaze broke out at a property on State Highway 1 just north of the town, and firefighters arrived to find a bedroom alight.
Fire and Emergency said crews pulled both occupants out of the house, and they were taken to hospital.
On Tuesday police confirmed one person has since died, while the other remains in a critical condition.
"The scene examination has been completed and the initial report from fire investigators indicates the fire was not suspicious," police said.
"Further enquiries will be undertaken to determine the cause of the fire, and the death will be referred to the Coroner."
Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow said the community would be hurting.
"It's such a tragic loss of life, and such a traumatic event," she said. "Ōtaki is a tight-knit community, so this will have an impact on neighbours, the wider community.
The community would come together to support the affected whānau, Holborow said.
She commended the firefighters who acted quickly to pull the pair out of the burning house.