A “significant” fire tore through Ric’s Restaurant at Te Arai Links this morning, with crews still working to fully extinguish the blaze after bringing it under control. Fire and Emergency New Zealand said crews were alerted at 10.08am to the blaze at the luxury golf course north of Auckland, where flames were seen burning through the large building’s roof. Crews from Wellsford and Mangawhai responded, and diners were evacuated as the fire swept through the structure. By mid-afternoon, Fire and Emergency said the blaze had been brought under control, though crews remained on site working to fully extinguish it. Three crews still remained in the evening extinguishing remaining hotspots, using thermal imaging equipment to identify heat sources.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 12, 2026 03:03 UTC