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.
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.