A Rotorua family is determined to return to its whanau homestead after a fire in one of the rooms.
Family members fought the blaze with buckets of water after it broke out in a corner room of the Steeles Lane, Western Heights, home yesterday around 12.30pm as they were outside having lunch.
It was the family home of Lance Macpherson and had been empty for about four years.
Mr Macpherson said he and other family members had started doing up the house, ready to be moved in by Christmas.
There was no power supply and Rotorua Fire Brigade Senior Station Officer Jim Prescott said a candle had blown over and set fire to belongings in the room.