Motueka building gutted by fire

Charred concrete walls were all that remained of a Motueka building after a huge blaze early on Monday.

Flames leapt 20m to 30m into the night sky after fire broke out at 3am in the concrete buildings opposite the local fire station.

The Motueka Carpet Court, containing the Absolute Furniture store, and an adjoining sushi bar were gutted. The Gecko movie theatre suffered moderate smoke damage.

Fifty firefighters and 11 appliances from throughout the region contained the blaze after a two-hour battle.

Motueka fire chief Mike Riddell said the cause of the fire was not yet known.