Police investigating the arson attack on St Patrick's Church in Napier on Wednesday night are focusing on sightings of a teenager seen cycling from the area at the time flames were first spotted.
Detective Constable Mike Signal, of the Napier Police CIB, said a person saw the youth, on what appeared
to be a dark-coloured BMX-style bike, cycle into the church area from the Dickens St side. When flames appeared, at about 9.30pm, the person did not see the youth come out that way.
Mr Signal said indications were the youth cycled off across Munroe St in the direction of the nearby Countdown supermarket.
He has appealed for any sightings of a cyclist, or cyclists, in the area between 9pm and 10pm.
The fire was started in bushes beside the wall of the church.
It spread to a tree which sent flames 15m into the air. Only the quick response from firefighters prevented fire getting into the church.
Mr Signal said the bushes and tree were relatively green and were unlikely to have burned with such intensity without some form of accelerant being used.
The incident was the fifth arson reported to police in Napier over the past fortnight. There was nothing to indicate that they were linked.
Anyone with any information about the fire is asked to call police on 831 0700, or anonymously to the Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111.
