Wellington  - Four children died when fire gutted a house early Tuesday in the Auckland suburb of Mangere, the Fire Service said.

Two adults, identified as Misi Sau and his wife Fetu by the New Zealand Herald, and believed to be the parents, were badly burned trying to save the children and were reportedly hospitalized in critical condition.

The dead children were thought to be ages 15, 11, 9 and 2, the paper reported, citing a Fire Service officer as saying that all four were probably overcome by smoke.

Two other children in the house survived and were hospitalized, while two other people sleeping in an outhouse at the back of the house were reported safe.

A fire officer said the blaze, which swept through the house "with alarming speed," was believed to have started in the kitchen about 12:45 am (1145 Monday GMT). (dpa)