A function room at Rotorua's Mitai Māori Village caught fire, spewing flames and smoke across the nearby area.
The performance area at Mitai Māori Village has been destroyed in a major fire but the tourist attraction’s owner says they were just glad no one was hurt.
Wetini Mitai Ngatai said in a live Facebook video last night that the fire, which raged through the premises just before 10pm,had destroyed the performance area.
“Everyone is fine, everyone is safe. We lost the performance area, but we didn’t lose the bush, and we didn’t lose anybody, so yeah, it comes down to resilience. Just got to get up and have another go.”
Fire and Emergency NZ was called to the Rotorua tourist attraction just before 10pm and found a large building and nearby bush on fire.
Mitai Ngatai said in the Facebook video that they appreciated everyone’s messages of concern.
The fire could be seen from a long way away, a woman said last night.
She couldn’t get closer as fire trucks were blocking off the road.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Ryan Geen said last night they received multiple calls from the public at 9.50pm about a fire at the village, at the northern entrance to Rotorua.
A crew was sent from Rotorua and found a large building, about 40m by 30m, on fire.
An eyewitness said the fire could be seen from a long way away.
Geen said an area of bush near the building had also caught on fire.
Additional fire crews were called from Ngongotahā, Mamakū, Kawerau, Rotoma, Lake Ōkareka, Tauranga and Greerton.
Water tankers were also sent because fire crews were having trouble with the water supply, he said.
A police spokesperson said they were notified of the fire at 9.45pm.
“It appears to have been the ‘concert house’, and the fire subsequently spread to trees/vegetation.
“Police were requested to assist with traffic management. There were fire hoses over the road, so the road had to be closed.”
