Police are investigating a suspicious fire at Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga.

Police were called to the commercial premises on Girven Rd about 10.25pm after reports of a fire.

In a statement today, police said the blaze is being treated as suspicious and inquiries into the incident are underway.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern fire communications shift spokesperson said two crews were dispatched to a fire alarm activation at Bayfair Shopping Centre about 9.50pm.

“Firefighters located a small fire near Kmart and extinguished it,” the spokesperson said.

The scene was handed over to police about 11.50pm.

A fire investigator was due to return to the site today to examine the cause of the blaze.