Man who died in Wairoa fire named

A man who died in a house fire in Wairoa yesterday morning has been named by police.

He was 63-year-old Henry Edward Pene of Wairoa.

Mr Pene was one of five people who were in the house during the fire, near the northern entrance to Wairoa, next to Taihoa Marae on State Highway 2.

Wairoa police Senior Sergeant Tony Bates said the house was ablaze when the fire service arrived at around 1.15am.

Family members in the house had woken to find a blaze in the lounge, evacuated the house and called emergency services.

They made desperate efforts to save Mr Pene but were unable to get through the flames, he said.

Mr Pene's body was found in his bedroom after the fire was brought under control.

A cause has not yet been determined and fire safety officers and police are still examining the scene.

- NZPA