The country's oldest Masonic lodge has been badly damaged in an early morning blaze

The Kohukohu landmark was burning fiercely when the first fire crews arrived at the scene around 4am

Six volunteer brigades from around the Hokianga district were called in to fight the blaze.

A fire investigator is on their way to the scene.

According to the Kohukohu Community Trust, the two storey wooden building was built in 1891 of kauri, with the top storey added in 1927.