The historic Waiau Lodge Hotel was damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake in 2016, before being razed by fire last week. Photo: RNZ / Maja BurryA fire that destroyed a historic North Canterbury hotel is being treated as suspicious. The earthquake-damaged Waiau Lodge Hotel, built in 1910, burned to the ground in the early hours of Saturday. Investigators looked over the wreckage yesterday and said at this point it was being treated as suspicious. Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said earlier this week that even though the hotel had been closed since it was damaged in the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, it remained an important place.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 26, 2021 23:15 UTC