Rainbow Youth's Tauranga Drop-in Centre has been destroyed in a suspicious fire overnight.
Police confirmed they were called at around 12:45pm on Wednesday to Seventeenth Avenue, Tauranga South following a report of a fire.
A spokesperson said police and Fire and Emergency NZ are investigating the fire which is being treated as suspicious.
The Tauranga City Council said no one was in the building at the time or has been injured in the fire.
"Fire crews were quickly at the scene and prevented the fire from spreading to any other buildings at the village," a council spokesperson said.
"Police have been on-site overnight and will carry out an investigation into the cause of the fire now it’s light.
The building is one of 60 in Tauranga's Historic Village and is shared by both Rainbow Youth and Gender Dynamix.
The council said the building is on the outskirts of the village away from other buildings and the area has been cordoned off from the rest of the village, which will be open for business as usual.
LGBT+ rights activist Shaneel Lal has set up a Givealittle page on behalf of Rainbow Youth.
"The details of the attack are unknown. However, this is a very distressing time for Rainbow Youth and the queer community in Aotearoa, especially in Tauranga," Lal wrote on the page.
"While we uncover the details, I am putting up this Givealittle for people to donate to Rainbow Youth during this time.
"All money from this fundraiser will be donated to Rainbow Youth."
