Old Waikato church burns to the ground

An old country church in the Waikato has burnt to the ground in an early morning blaze.

Five fire trucks are at the scene in Ngahinapouri.

It's the second church to be destroyed by fire in the area within the last month.

Fire Communications Shift Manager Scott Osmond says they received the call just after 4am.

"When we arrived there about 20 minutes later the building was well involved in fire and pretty much destroyed," he told Newstalk ZB.

Meanwhile firefighters remain at the scene of a blaze north of Taupo where a service station has burnt to the ground.

Fire Safety is investigating both incidents.

- Newstalk ZB