Policeman's house attacked

A policeman's house in an isolated East Coast settlement was the target of an arson attack while he and his family slept inside.

The fire was lit outside Constable John Woolf's house in Tokomaru Bay, south of Ruatoria, at 1.30am on Tuesday.

An accelerant had been poured on and around the house, which is attached to the police station, outside one of the bedrooms, said Detective Sergeant Stephen Smith of the Gisborne police.

The constable's wife woke to the sound of flames and the smell of smoke, and alerted him to the fire.

Mr Woolf grabbed a bucket and filled it with water from a nearby trough, said Mr Smith.

The flames had charred some weatherboards.

"It's a small town with a sole charge constable living with his family [and he] depends on the community for his livelihood so it's quite sinister," said Mr Smith.

The Woolfs have four young children, who were inside the house, a resident said.

The officer has been at Tokomaru Bay for about four years.

Mr Smith said security arrangements had been made for the family and police were investigating the arson.