The fire in Waikaia overnight on February 21 last year left an Elswick St home and two vehicles on the property extensively damaged.
In May this year police said they were making progress and hoped to make an arrest.
They also released an image of a red BMW convertible similar to one seen speeding from the scene.
Detective Sergeant Brian McKinney of Gore CIB said today a 35-year-old had been charged with arson.
He was due to appear in the Gore District Court on December 17.
"We’d like to thank the members of the public who provided information to police throughout this investigation, to ensure the person responsible can be held accountable."
As she crossed the bridge on the outskirts of the town she could see a car with its headlights on full coming towards her, she said.
The driver of the vehicle dipped the lights just before it went past her and shortly afterwards she saw the fire.
"You could just see the glow in the background and a wee bit of flames shooting up from the back," Ms Turnbull said.
The brigade members managed to save a Land Rover in a lean-to beside the garage but there was not much left of the house and garage.
"The vehicles in the garage were lost."
The fact investigators deemed the fire to be suspicious was "doubly sad".
"You hate to think somebody has a reason to burn somebody’s house down."
- Allied Media
