Part of a Northland marae has burned to the ground.
A Fire Service spokesperson said it was called to Waikara Marae, near Dargaville, about 6pm yesterday after the wharekai [cook house] caught fire.
The marae's isolated location meant the building was nearly destroyed by the time fire crews reached it.
The fire was not suspicious but a fire investigator would be at the site this morning to try to determine the cause.
