A small Taranaki community saw its landmark meeting place destroyed by an arsonist yesterday morning.
When firefighters arrived at historic Hurworth Hall at Hurworth, 8km south of New Plymouth, it was already well ablaze.
New Plymouth senior station officer Steve Dombroski told the Taranaki Daily News the fire had been deliberately lit and firefighters had struggled to find enough water to douse the flames.
Hurworth Hall committee chairman Tom Cloke said the hall, built in 1923, had been at the heart of the community.
"You take the hall away and there is no Hurworth. You've got no community anymore. No place for everyone to come together."
He said the building had been insured but the committee would have to consider factors such as security before deciding whether to rebuild.
