A large fire in the town of Feilding in Manawatu is being treated as suspicious.
The Fire Service was called to The Wilkes Trading Company, a skin and hide merchant, on South Street, shortly before 2am on Sunday.
The 600 square metre building was well alight.
The Fire Service says the origin of the blaze is being investigated.
Police say there have been six fires in recent months, in commercial properties and a church. A serial arsonist is suspected.
A police spokesperson, Kim Perks, says while the cause of Sunday's fire is yet to be determined, the spate of arsons makes it suspicious until evidence proves otherwise.
She says the location and time are all very similar to the other offences in the town.
Ms Perks says Feilding is a close knit community and the police hope someone can identify the person, or people, responsible for the fires before more damage is caused, or a life is lost.
And she says they would like to hear from anyone who was near South Street at about 2am on Sunday.
