Police have charged a man with two of several suspected arsons in the Wellington region.
There have been at least 11 suspicious fires since Saturday afternoon, including one at the Wainuiomata Pioneer Church on Sunday.
Police say a grey 1989 Toyota Corona liftback was spotted at the scene and later found in the suburb of Johnsonville.
A man from Porirua, who was in the car, appeared in Wellington District Court on Monday morning charged with stealing a motor vehicle and driving from a petrol station without paying for fuel.
Police questioned him further in the afternoon and he will now appear in the Lower Hutt District Court on Tuesday charged with the arson of two churches in Wainuiomata.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell says police are investigating whether all of the suspicious fires are linked and want to hear from anyone who may have seen the stolen Toyota Corona during the weekend.
