Probe into arson attack on PM's electorate office underway

John Key's west Auckland electorate office. Photo / Bradley Ambrose

Police and fire safety officers are investigating an arson attack on Prime Minister John Key's electorate office northwest of Auckland early today.

A small fire broke out when an object was thrown into the office in Main Road, Kumeu, about 3am.

Fire Service northern communications shift manager Megan Ruru said 111 calls were made by two members of the public.

"We were originally told it was just a house on fire, but the second call, from a neighbour, advised us it was John Key's office," she told NZPA.

Ms Ruru said it appeared something was thrown through a window which caused a small fire.

Two fire appliances attended and those firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it got out of the room into which the object was thrown.

A senior fire safety officer arrived at the scene about 8am to investigate the cause of the fire.

Police were also investigating the attack. A police spokesman said there would be no comment.

A spokesman for Mr Key also said there would be no comment on the fire at this stage.

The office is on State Highway 16, a busy road used by commuters from Helensville and the Kumeu-Huapai area to Auckland.

The office was cordoned off but there did not appear to be any traffic delays.

Kumeu is within the Helensville electorate which Mr Key represents.

The attack is not the first on the electorate office of a prime minister. In 2004 an axe attack was made on the Auckland electorate office of then prime minister Helen Clark.

Political activist Tim Selwyn was convicted on a sedition charge for his involvement in the attack, and was jailed for two months.

In January last year a brick was thrown through the window of Miss Clark's electorate office.

- NZPA