The Fire Service says a man missing after a house fire in Whangarei does not appear to have been caught in the blaze.
Police are treating the fire, which happened in the suburb of Otangarei at about 1.30am on Sunday, as arson.
They have not been able to find the man who lives there but the Fire Service has now searched the property and found no one inside.
Police said gang members from a nearby party got in their way when they attended the fire and a nearby car was also alight.
