Wellington - Four people died in a house fire in Mangere, Auckland, in the early hours of Tuesday (Monday evening GMT), the Fire Service reported.

Four more of the 10 people reported to be in the house at the time were taken to hospital, two of them in a serious condition, Radio New Zealand reported.

There was no immediate word on the identities of the dead, though a Fire Service officer said they were believed to be from the same family. (dpa)