'Burning smell' at NZ Insurance building

Fire crews were called to the New Zealand Insurance building in central Dunedin just before noon today after reports of a strong acrid burning smell.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Rewai Grace said the occupants called police about 11.30am after smelling burning which they ''thought smelled like plastic''.

Crews arrived, along with a ladder truck, which they used to gain access to the roof.

Apart from a slight whiff of burning, they found nothing, and the building was left in the hands of the alarm company, Mr Grace said.