Fire guts historic Kaikoura court house

Authorities are looking for a new venue for Kaikoura's next court sitting after the town's historic court house was gutted by a fire last night.

Kaikoura fire chief Ian Walker said the old wooden building in Killarney St was well ablaze when two crews and appliances arrived about 4am.

The fire was being treated as suspicious.

Kaikoura District Court manager Pip O'Connell today said the next sitting of the court was September 10 and a new venue would need to be found by then.

Losing the historical court house, which was built in 1881, was a great loss for Kaikoura, he said.

"It's a huge hunk of history just up in smoke."

Mr O'Connell said the court house was badly burnt and would be demolished.

"It's got no roof, the two sides and the front are still standing but the back wall gone."

The court normally sits once every four or five weeks.

- NZPA