A Southland farmhouse has burned to the ground overnight.
The cause of the early morning blaze at a farm west of Winton remains unknown, as a fire investigator begins making inquiries.
Fire and Emergency NZ southern communications shift manager Lyn Crosson said crews were called shortly after 2am to the blaze near he Oreti Plains Rd.
Two crews from Winton and a tanker from Dipton arrived to find the farmhouse ''on the ground,'' Ms Crosson said.
"It was totally burned down.''
The farmhouse was one of several structures on the property.
No people were reported inside at the time.
A fire investigator is on scene this morning but the cause remains unknown.
