A veterinary clinic has been severely damaged during a fire in Wellington overnight.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand told 1News they were called to the scene in Kilbirnie at 11.50pm last night.
Animals were present inside the building. Firefighters evacuated some cats and there are some animals unaccounted for, FENZ said. A spokesperson who spoke to 1News did not have numbers relating to the animals at the time.
The fire was extinguished at about 2.30am this morning. Nine appliances and five specialist support vehicles were on the scene.
Crews remain at the scene this morning dampening down hotspots.
A fire investigator will visit the scene today, FENZ added.