A person has died following a devastating house fire on Matakana Island in the Bay of Plenty, with emergency services responding to the blaze in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were called to the island at about 4.09am, with firefighters from Matakana Island supported by crews from Greerton and Ōmokoroa.
Early reports from emergency services said one person was unaccounted for while firefighters battled the blaze. RNZ has subsequently reported that one person has died.
Another person was injured and transported by helicopter to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition, according to Hato Hone St John.
ISLAND LOCATION ADDS TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Matakana Island sits across Tauranga Harbour and its offshore location can add significant logistical challenges when major emergency resources need to be brought in from the mainland.
Those challenges have been experienced during previous fires on the island. A major forestry fire in December 2023 required firefighters and equipment from across the Bay of Plenty, with boats used to transport personnel to the island.
The cause of Saturday morning’s fatal house fire has not yet been established publicly.
Further information is expected as emergency services complete their work at the scene and investigations begin into how the fire started.
COMMUNITY FACING LOSS
Matakana Island is a predominantly Māori community with deep whakapapa connections to the whenua and Tauranga Moana. The island community has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to rally together during major fires and other emergencies.
Saturday’s tragedy is different.
At the centre of this incident is the loss of a life, an injured person taken to hospital and whānau facing devastating circumstances.
Radio Waatea extends its aroha to the whānau and the Matakana Island community affected by this morning’s tragedy.
#MatakanaIsland #Matakana #TaurangaMoana #BayOfPlenty #HouseFire #BreakingNews #FireAndEmergencyNZ #FENZ #HatoHoneStJohn #WaikatoHospital #EmergencyServices #Whānau #TangataWhenua #TeAoMāori #Aotearoa #MāoriNews #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea
