Fire investigators believe a house fire at a Western Southland property is "suspicious" in nature. Emergency services were called at 1.45pm on Thursday to the address at Clifden Gorge Rd, Eastern Bush, where the house burned almost to the ground. Invercargill Chief Fire Investigator Murray Milne-Maresca said Fire and Emergency New Zealand concluded its part of the investigation today. It was reported yesterday there was a link between the owner of the house and the Southland missing man Dale Tama Watene (40), who was allegedly the owner’s employee. A Police spokeswoman told Otago Daily Times today the investigation was still in "early stages" and it was "unable to say whether the matter is linked to missing person Dale Watene."

Source: Otago Daily Times May 02, 2020 03:22 UTC