A 19-year-old has been charged with arson and shoplifting following a fire at an Auckland supermarket last week.
The blaze broke out shortly before 8:30pm on Thursday at Countdown in WestCity Waitākere mall. Photos show a section of the chip aisle engulfed in flames.
The entire shopping centre was evacuated while emergency crews responded, and about 60 firefighters from across Auckland battled the "significant" blaze, Fire and Emergency NZ said.
A police spokesperson says the 19-year-old is expected to appear in Waitākere District Court on Tuesday. Police are still trying to locate a second person who was allegedly involved.
Stuff reports it's unlikely this Countdown will reopen this week, with a spokesperson saying the main impact to the store was product and water damage.
