Marae fire leaves Napier hapu in tears

Tears, as well as a determination to rebuild, have emerged in the wake of last night's fire at Napier's Waiohiki Marae.

A small group of people representing local hapu, several in tears, gathered in the grounds of the marae, 11km south-west of Napier, at dawn this morning to hear tohunga Joe Northover recite karakia over the charred remains of the hall.

The wooden building, built just after WWII and called Te Huinga, was destroyed by fire, which broke out just after 9pm.

Little was left of the large hall, which was ablaze from end to end when the first fire crews arrived.

"They could see the flames while they were on the way there," Napier fire chief Paul Baxter said today as fire and police investigators began sifting through the remains looking for the cause.

The fire was not believed to be suspicious.

Mr Baxter said the siting of the marae meant it was not on the city's reticulated water supply so water tankers were sent with the first pumps.

About 35 firefighters, from Napier, Hastings and Taradale, attended.

At this morning's emotional gathering on the marae, the grand-daughter of Kurupo Tareha, who lived in an adjacent homestead and did much for the community through meetings and activities centred around the hall, spoke of the passionate way the community had worked to develop the marae.

Waiohiki identity Denis O'Reilly said Te Huinga had special memories for many people and there was a strong determination to rebuild and take the marae into the 21st century.

He said the late Canon Wi Te Tau Huata based his Takitimu wananga programme in the building and it became the centre of local community life.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY