Guests have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a luxury lodge on the outskirts of Te Anau, drawing a large response from fire brigades as far away as Invercargill.
Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) deployed crews from across the region to join local brigades after the blaze at the 10-room Fiordland Lodge was reported at around 11.15pm on Saturday.
The blaze, initially reported as a roof fire, has been contained, and it's believed some of the building can be saved, but the extent wasn't yet known, FENZ told 1News.
At its peak, eight fire trucks, an aerial appliance, five tankers and two support vehicles were tackling the fire at the building.
Assistant commander Nic McQuillan said the fire had been contained to one wing of the lodge, but crews were continuing to suppress flare-ups and monitor hotspots.
He said the fire had been "complicated to tackle" due to the design of the building and roof construction.
Co-owner of the lodge, Vicki Onions, said no one was injured in the blaze.
"All guests were relocated to local hotels in Te Anau as a safety measure," she said in a statement to 1News.
"At this stage, it is too early to determine the extent of the damage to the property or the cause of the fire. The owners of Fiordland Lodge are grateful for the swift response and support of emergency services."
Do you have any photos or videos of the blaze? Send them to news@tvnz.co.nz
Operations began scaling back about 8am on Sunday, though McQuillan said an aerial appliance, two pumps and two tankers would remain on site for several hours.
Overnight, fire crews responded from Te Anau, Manapouri, Mossburn, Blackmount, Lumsden and Invercargill. Relief crews were en route from Winton, Otautau and Invercargill to replace the personnel who had been working on the fire overnight.
Fire officials have asked drivers in the area to be mindful of emergency vehicles, including water tankers.
Fiordland Lodge sits about 5km from Te Anau and was a well‑known accommodation provider in the area.
The 10‑suite timber-and-stone building opened in 2002 and has attracted high-profile guests.
Originally built and run by founders Ron and Robynne Peacock, Fiordland Lodge was sold last year to Australian hotel group Imperium Collection.
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