Elderly man dies in Banks Peninsula fire

An elderly man has been found dead following a fire that gutted a house on Banks Peninsula near Christchurch this morning.

Two fire appliances and two tankers attended the blaze in Little Akaloa, on the northern coast of the peninsula, 25km north of Akaroa, which began at 11.30am.

The man was reported missing and his body was later discovered in the remains of the house, said Senior Constable Steve Ditmer of Akaroa police.

The dead man's name has not been released.

Inquiries into the cause of the fire were continuing and the matter would be referred to the coroner, Mr Ditmer said.

- NZPA