An overheated meter box was the subject of an emergency call out in Mount Maunganui overnight.
Firefighters were called to a property on Oceanbeach Rd just after 6.30pm to find the smouldering meter box.
Mount brigade's Terry Mills said firefighters had to break up the wall to control the fire and search the cavity behind the meter box to ensure the fire was not spreading.
While the wall was damaged, the rest of the property was okay.