Historic courthouse goes up in flames

Photo / Greg Bowker

Authorities are looking for a new venue for Kaikoura's next court sitting after the town's historic courthouse was gutted by a fire early yesterday.

Kaikoura fire chief Ian Walker said the old wooden building in Killarney St was well ablaze when two crews and fire trucks arrived about 4am.

The fire was being treated as suspicious.

Kaikoura District Court manager Pip O'Connell said yesterday the next sitting of the court was September 10 and a new venue would need to be found by then.

Losing the courthouse, which was built in 1881, was a great loss for Kaikoura, he said. "It's a huge hunk of history up in smoke."

Mr O'Connell said the courthouse would be demolished. "It's got no roof, the two sides and the front are still standing but the back wall's gone."

The court usually sits once every four or five weeks.

- NZPA