Police are appealing for information about a suspicious fire that destroyed a popular cafe near Palmerston North.
Firefighters were called to Cafe Domain in Ashhurst, 15km northeast of Palmerston North, about 1.15am yesterday and found it completely engulfed in flames.
The building, which was originally part of the custodian's cottage at the nearby Ashhurst cemetery before being renovated in 2005, was severely damaged and the roof had partially collapsed.
It took firefighters 30 minutes to contain the fire and two hours to dampen down hotspots.
The blaze was being treated as suspicious, though police and the Fire Service have yet to identify the cause.
Detective Nigel Affleck, of Palmerston North, told NZPA police were looking at the possibility of an electrical fire or an arson attack.
"Just the ways things have fallen in the fire, it's difficult to tell," he says.
Mr Affleck said police had not received any tips from the public, and were hoping someone would soon come forward with information.
The latest fire is the sixth suspicious blaze in the wider Manawatu area in less than two weeks.
Mr Affleck said there was no indication the fires were linked, but police were keeping an open mind.
There were three suspicious fires in the city last week - two grass fires at Panieri Park and a Keeling St house fire.
Near Levin, thousands of dollars worth of firewood was burned in a shed at a former boys' home and a suspicious fire broke out in a Feilding church hall last week.
NZPA