A substantial quantity of manuka honey was destroyed when fire broke out at Awanui's Mana Kai Honey Whare (formerly known as the fish factory) on Saturday.
The fire had almost burnt itself out by the time the Kaitaia Fire Brigade arrived, deputy CFO Craig Rogers said, although there was a lot of smoke. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to get into the building, but the 'heat room', where the blaze started, was sealed and the flames ran out of oxygen.
Toxins released from burning polystyrene rendered the honey unfit for consumption, however, although more, stored in sealed barrels at the rear of the premises, was not affected.
Sera Grubb, who established the business, which exports to China, the UK and Europe with her partner Bobby Leef a year ago, said the outcome could have been much worse. The heat-controlled room had not been full, and while the loss was significant it could have been much more substantial.
Mr Rogers and fire investigator Craig Bain agreed that the fire, which did no structural damage, was the result of an electrical fault.
