Bay of Plenty community gutted by hall fire

Residents of a small, historic settlement in the Bay of Plenty are distraught after their community hall was gutted by fire. File photo / NZ Herald

Residents of a small, historic settlement in the Karangahake Gorge in the Bay of Plenty are distraught after their community hall was early this morning gutted by fire, which is believed to have been deliberately lit.

The building was burning fiercely when firefighters arrived shortly about 5am.

Fire safety officer Ross Fleet said the hall, which had been in regular use by Karangahake locals for about 55 years, had been completely destroyed.

Mr Fleet would not say what appeared to have started the fire but it was being treated as suspicious.

The hall was a significant building for the small community - some locals had been married there and it was used for a community market.

"People are generally just a bit distraught about the whole thing," he said.

Detective Mike Plant of Waihi police said, given the isolated location of the building, it was likely the person or people who started the fire would have used a vehicle to reach the scene.

It was likely early morning travellers between Paeroa and Waihi saw them travelling through the gorge.

"We would be keen to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious persons or behaviour," he said.