Fire rips through couple’s Raglan home leaving them to rebuild from scratch

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

A Raglan couple are facing a long road to recovery after their cottage was destroyed in an early-morning fire, wiping out years of memories, belongings and work equipment.

Fire crews from Raglan, Ngāruawāhia, Te Ākau and Hamilton were called to the blaze on June 15, where Fire and Emergency NZ said the single-storey cottage was “well-ablaze” before being brought under control by around 6.30am.

A FENZ spokesperson confirmed the building was seriously damaged in the fire. All occupants were safe, and the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.

The fire left owners John Vissers and Tracey Bonnington to confront the loss of not only their home, but also personal possessions, tools and creative work stored in and around the property.

“In a matter of minutes, years of memories, belongings, tools, precious creations, and a place full of life were gone,” a Givealittle page set up by men’s support group BROS Aotearoa says.

Vissers, a carpenter and creative by trade, also lost the tools and materials used in his work.

“The loss is heavy, the cost is large, and the road to rebuilding is long.”

The Waikato Times attended the scene at the time, but the homeowners and firefighters declined to comment on site.

A Givealittle page has since raised more than $7,000 to help the couple clear the site, replace essentials, rebuild the cottage and workshop and support them as they “get back on their feet”.

“They’ve shown up for so many of their local community over the years. Now it’s our turn to show up for them.”