A 31-year-old man has been taken into custody after allegedly damaging a Whanganui property on Monday.

A police spokesman said they were called to a property in Duigan St, Gonville about 8pm, where an occupant was allegedly damaging the property.

A fire was started inside the property but extinguished by another occupant before firefighters arrived, he said.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said two fire trucks were sent from Whanganui Fire Station.

Because the fire was “a criminal incident”, it was handed over to police, he said.

Inquiries were continuing and charges were being considered, police said.

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.