Uncertainty remains about the cause of a blaze completely gutted a house in the remote settlement of Akitio in the Tararua District.
Fire and Emergency NZ Hawke's Bay area commander Ken Cooper said three fire engines and a helicopter with monsoon bucket took three hours to put out the fire which started about noon on Tuesday.
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The home owner was away when the fire ignited.
Cooper said the fire was at risk of spreading into a heavily grassed area behind the property in the coastal settlement.