A popular Tauranga slide torched twice this year will not be open this Christmas.

The slide, which is part of the playground on The Strand, was deliberately set fire to on two separate occasions. The first time was back in October and the second was on November 13.

On November 13, Tauranga Fire Brigade was called to the fire on The Strand, near Wharf Street, just before 5am.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern fire communications shift manager Kaisey Cooks told SunLive the playground was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.

'Firefighters spent about half an hour at the scene.”

Police were speaking to two people in relation to the fire.

'Following the deliberate lighting of our children's slide along the Strand on 13 Nov it will be closed until March 2020,” says Tauranga City Council on Facebook today.

'This incident was very disappointing and our team is doing their best to have it repaired as quickly as they are able.

'Currently, pricing to repair the slide is being put together and our insurance company will then decide whether to repair or replace it.”