Dozens of people, including young children will have to spend the night at their church after flames ripped through their homes.
Multiple buildings have been razed to the ground at the Akoteu Faka Kalisitiane Ko Namoa church complex in Mangere Bridge in Auckland.
Public health officials instructed some schools to close today while they assessed an asbestos risk, but none has been found.
The fire service says it's very lucky everyone escaped with their lives.
Emma Stanford has the story.
