Family escapes but house razed

DAMAGE DONE: Kaeo's chief fire officer Lindsay Murray dampening down the remains of the Matauri Bay house razed in a suspected arson attack.

Hemi Rapata just had time to get his five children, aged from 2 to 9 years, out of their house at Matauri Bay late on Thursday night before it went up like an inferno, possibly thanks to an arsonist.

Mr Rapata said he had feared for the safety of his children after a confrontation outside his house that evening, so he took them to his father's home next door. When he returned minutes later he saw the flames. He called 111, but the blaze took hold so quickly no one could do anything but prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding bush.

The fire had destroyed everything he, his partner and children owned, he said.

"We've lost the whole lot. The stove, furniture, beds, family photos. It's just devastating," Mr Rapata said.

Detective Sergeant Sam Bindon (Kerikeri) said police and firefighters were called to the property just before 11pm after a confrontation there involving another local man. No one had been injured in the fire, but the house had been "completely annihilated".

Police installed a scene guard overnight and carried out a thorough examination on Friday, Mr Rapata helping Detective Bill Dawson and specialist fire investigator Craig Bain as they searched for evidence as to how the fire started.

Police were also speaking to people at Matauri Bay who had witnessed the incident or knew how the fire started. They were looking for a specific man to hear his account of what happened.

Anyone else with information was urged to call the Kerikeri police station on (09) 407-9211 and ask to speak to one of the CIB staff or leave a message.

Kaeo's chief fire officer, Lindsay Murray, said the house was burning fiercely when the brigade arrived. The Kerikeri brigade sent a tanker and shuttled water from a nearby creek with the aid of a portable pump.

The Kaeo volunteers returned on Friday to continue dampening down the ashes and charred framing that remained.

Until they find a new home Mr Rapata and his family will be staying with his father on the neighbouring property.