A fire ripped through the rear of at Franz Josef Glacier restaurant early this morning leaving the building badly damaged.
A neighbour raised the fire alarm about 2.50am after the automatic fire warning system was activated in the 88 Asian Fusion restaurant.
Volunteer fire brigades from Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier and Whataroa responded.
Relieving Franz Josef policeman constable Bruce Pearson was on the scene at 3am and said smoke was billowing from beneath the guttering and through vents at the back of the building.
A resident ran a hose through a broken window to attack some of the visible flames.