Te Arai Links blaze: Owners vow to rebuild Ric’s Restaurant, investigation underway

An investigation is underway into the cause of fire that gutted an iconic restaurant at luxury golf course Te Arai Links yesterday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand were alerted to the blaze at Ric’s Restaurant, about an hour and 20 minutes northeast of Auckland, shortly after 10am.

Te Arai Links said the fire originated in the rear of the building but could not comment further on the cause.

“A formal investigation is currently underway, and we will await its findings before providing any further detail.”

Te Arai Links said Ric’s Restaurant was built in line with all fire compliance requirements and had been fully compliant at the time of the fire.

“All staff and guests were safely evacuated, and we are incredibly grateful that everyone is safe.”

Yesterday was an emotional day for their team and everyone involved, Te Arai Links said.

“Ric’s is more than a restaurant – it’s the heartbeat of Te Arai Links. It’s where our team and our guests come together, and where so many moments have been created."

Support was in place for staff and others impacted by the “devastating” blaze.

Te Arai Links vowed to rebuild the restaurant “quickly and thoughtfully, into something even stronger”.

Crews from Wellsford and Mangawhai responded to the fire and were able to bring the blaze under control by mid-afternoon yesterday.

Fire engulfs Ric's Restaurant at Te Arai Links golf course.

Three crews were there in the evening, extinguishing remaining hotspots, using thermal imaging equipment to identify heat sources.

A 30-tonne digger was also assisting by moving debris.

More to come ...

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.