27 May 2021

Waiau Lodge fire treated as suspicious

10:48 am on 27 May 2021

A fire that destroyed an historical North Canterbury hotel is being treated as suspicious.

The Waiau Lodge Hotel pub, which was damaged in the earthquake in November.

The historic Waiau Lodge Hotel was damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake in 2016, before being razed by fire last week. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry

The earthquake-damaged Waiau Lodge Hotel, built in 1910, burned to the ground in the early hours of Saturday.

Investigators looked over the wreckage yesterday and said at this point it was being treated as suspicious.

Enquiries will include viewing CCTV footage and working with the local community to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.