A fire lit at a Wellington playground has caused damage worth an estimated $40,000.
The Wellington City Council says the fire was deliberately lit at the Ben Burn Park playground in the suburb of Karori early on Sunday.
It destroyed the toddlers' area, including a fort and slide, and rubber matting covering 30 square metres.
The council says the area is fenced off until insurance assessors examine the scene and the damage will take months to repair.
The rest of the playground was not damaged and remains open.