45:
1392:
228:). Earlier in the night, a couch fire occurred about two hours before the later fire; it was not reported to authorities. It was initially unclear how many people were in the hostel when the fire occurred, however, 52 people were evacuated from the building and at least five were rescued from the roof by
325:
By late March 2024, Community Law senior lawyer Oscar
Upperton confirmed that recovery professionals had managed to return several salvageable possessions including family photos and memorabilia to displaced tenants. Due to water, fire damage and asbestos contamination, some items were irrecoverable.
321:
On 23 June, lawyers representing displaced residents filed an interim injunction to stop the owners from demolishing the structure in order to retrieve their belongings. Residents had previously been told that the building would be demolished and their possessions would be dumped due to the risk of
235:
A long-term resident of the hostel said that he had noticed the fire while heading back to his room from the bathroom, and that the smoke, crowds and darkness were disorienting before he was able to escape via a stairwell. Other residents said that, due to multiple false fire alarms throughout the
322:
toxic contamination. Under the injunction, residents will be allowed to conduct their own inspection to determine if their belongings could be retrieved. The owner would also have to take action to prevent further damage to the residents' belongings and would have to provide daily updates.
314:
By 7 June, the
Wellington City Mission had raised NZ$ 360,000 for residents who had lost possessions during the fire. However, only NZ$ 92,000 of this amount had been given out to displaced residents who received an initial payment of NZ$ 500, followed by a further payment of NZ$ 1,000.
200:
The building previously served as a place of emergency residential housing contracted by the New
Zealand Government. A deportee advocate said the hostel was used by Prison Aid and Rehabilitation, and by the government to house deportees returned from Australia.
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on 19 May 2023, where he entered no plea and was remanded in custody until 19 June 2023. The man's name was suppressed until his next appearance. On 1 June, he was charged with five counts of murder.
487:
704:
735:
1177:
875:
600:
1005:
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On 23 June, Judge
Christine Grice of the Wellington High Court granted the murder suspect name suppression until mid-August 2023. The suspect's trial is scheduled to take place in August 2024.
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906:
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31:
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were not installed in the building, nor were they required to be installed by the building code. A fire engineer was quoted as saying the rules were "too slack and need tightening".
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The four-storey building was constructed in 1971 as an office and warehouse building called Mertex House. Since 2006, the building has been occupied by
Loafers Lodge.
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1352:
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1255:
281:
On 21 March 2024, the suspect's lawyer Louise
Sziranyi confirmed that the defendant would plead not guilty to the murder charges on the grounds of insanity.
479:
696:
727:
293:
called the fire an absolute tragedy. He said that the government will investigate whether regulations for high density accommodation are fit for purpose.
326:
Upperton also confirmed that the tenants and landlord were working on minor issues related to the recovery process that was expected to be settled soon.
1169:
867:
997:
260:
On 17 May 2023, police announced they were treating the fire as arson and had launched a homicide inquiry. At the time, police would not say whether
244:
The five deceased victims were identified as: Kenneth
Barnard, 67; Liam James Hockings, 50; Peter Glenn O'Sullivan, 64; Melvin Joseph Parun, 68; and
100:
438:
898:
834:
801:
509:
189:, New Zealand. Five people were killed, and twenty others injured. On 18 May 2023, a man was arrested. He was charged with arson and murder.
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232:. Later reports stated that there were 92 people who had been evacuated from the hostel and fewer than 20 people were counted as missing.
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On 15 June, hundreds of people attended a remembrance ceremony at
Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul for the victims.
204:
The building's
Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) was renewed in March 2023. BWoF records show the building had a "type 3"
1412:
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543:"Live: 'Tragic event for all involved': Crews on scene after Wellington hostel fire leaves at least six dead"
272:
1437:
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93:
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208:(automatic system with heat detectors and manual call points) supplemented by smoke detectors.
26:
248:(known as Mike the Juggler), 67. It was reported that Parun was the brother of tennis player
209:
1289:"Loafers Lodge fire: 'I think we are all responsible - not just the owners' - Social worker"
267:
On 18 May 2023, a 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of arson. He was
1132:"Wellington hostel fire latest news: six people dead and many missing in New Zealand blaze"
182:
81:
1200:"Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on fatal Wellington hostel fire; it is a horrific situation"
8:
225:
930:"New Zealand hostel fire: suspect remanded in custody after Wellington court appearance"
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601:"Why Loafers Lodge didn't have sprinklers - and firefighter fears over ageing trucks"
446:
205:
1256:"City Mission pays extra $ 1000 to Loafers Lodge residents displaced by deadly fire"
1353:"More recovered possessions returned to victims of Wellington's Loafers Lodge fire"
480:"'I knew I had to jump': What it was like inside Loafers Lodge when fire broke out"
839:
728:"'Debris piled high': Police remove two bodies at fatal Loafers Lodge fire scene"
697:"Fatal Wellington hostel fire: Fire alarms did not sound at scene, resident says"
299:
1099:"Loafers Lodge murder accused will claim defence of insanity, pleads not guilty"
44:
633:"New Zealand police to remove bodies from hostel where at least 6 died in fire"
439:"New Zealand hostel fire: at least six dead and 11 missing in Wellington blaze"
1029:"Loafers Lodge alleged murderer's name to stay secret for at least two months"
1406:
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1170:"Government to review building regulations for high density accommodation"
303:
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1062:"Loafers Lodge fire: Name suppression continues for accused arsonist"
868:"Police confirm arson investigation as teams move into Loafers Lodge"
835:"Street identity 'Mike the Juggler' among Loafers Lodge fire victims"
802:"Wellington hostel fire: Three victims of Loafers Lodge blaze named"
664:"At least six dead after fire engulfs hostel in New Zealand capital"
510:"Loafers Lodge had a building WOF, but what exactly does that mean?"
264:
were used on the fire or why they believe it was deliberately lit.
220:
A fire broke out on the top floor of the 92-room lodge around 12:25
899:"Deadly Wellington hostel fire being treated as arson, police say"
1321:"Ex-Loafers Lodge residents gain legal reprieve over belongings"
968:"Man charged over fatal Loafers Lodge fire tries to sack lawyer"
181:
On 16 May 2023, a fire broke out at the 92-bed
Loafers Lodge in
1066:
765:
377:"Man charged with two counts of arson after fatal hostel fire"
236:
past months, there were delays in responding and evacuating.
998:"Loafers Lodge fire: Man charged with five counts of murder"
1226:"A 'dark day' for Wellington - Mayor on tragic hostel fire"
1071:
770:
302:
said the fire was absolutely devastating. Wellington mayor
344:"Hostel fire: Hearse arrives as police recover two bodies"
573:"Loafers Lodge fire engineer wants safety rules revamped"
306:
called the fire "one of the darkest days in the city".
408:"Wellington fatal hostel fire: What is Loafers Lodge?"
255:
1380:
761:"Two more Loafers Lodge fire victims named by police"
16:
2023 fire in Loafers Lodge in Wellington, New Zealand
599:
662:Arias, Tatiana; Subramaniam, Tara (16 May 2023).
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167:Fire damage, partial collapse of building
1129:
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1286:
928:Graham-McLay, Charlotte (19 May 2023).
897:Graham-McLay, Charlotte (17 May 2023).
436:
1405:
1097:Nightingale, Melissa (22 March 2024).
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1027:Nightingale, Melissa (23 June 2023).
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256:Investigation and legal proceedings
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1236:from the original on 16 May 2023
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1180:from the original on 18 May 2023
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1060:Frykberg, Laura (23 June 2023).
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643:from the original on 18 May 2023
612:from the original on 16 May 2023
598:Coughlan, Thomas (16 May 2023).
579:from the original on 29 May 2023
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1130:Sullivan, Helen (15 May 2023).
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1428:May 2023 events in New Zealand
1287:Hickman, Bill (16 June 2023).
1202:. Stuff/Fairfax. 16 May 2023.
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565:
502:
430:
399:
336:
1:
866:Chin, Frances (17 May 2023).
726:Chin, Frances (18 May 2023).
437:McClure, Tess (16 May 2023).
406:Sharpe, Marty (15 May 2023).
329:
192:
309:
284:
49:Loafers Lodge in August 2021
7:
631:Perry, Nick (17 May 2023).
215:
10:
1459:
1443:2023 crimes in New Zealand
1433:Residential building fires
239:
833:Hunt, Tom (22 May 2023).
575:. Radio NZ. 17 May 2023.
171:
163:
155:
147:
143:Unknown (suspected arson)
139:
131:
92:
77:
69:
54:
42:
20:
1104:The New Zealand Herald
1034:The New Zealand Herald
116:41.30674°S 174.77773°E
32:considered for merging
1413:2023 fires in Oceania
297:Wellington Central MP
58:16 May 2023
1423:Fires in New Zealand
121:-41.30674; 174.77773
1438:2023 in New Zealand
1418:2020s in Wellington
112: /
39:
271:in the Wellington
246:Mike Eric Wahrlich
230:Fire and Emergency
156:Non-fatal injuries
38:Loafers Lodge fire
37:
1361:. 26 March 2024.
1358:Radio New Zealand
1326:Radio New Zealand
1294:Radio New Zealand
1261:Radio New Zealand
807:Radio New Zealand
206:fire alarm system
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1329:. 23 June 2023.
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1264:. 7 June 2023.
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1232:. 16 May 2023.
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1176:. 17 May 2023.
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1004:. 1 June 2023.
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974:. 19 May 2023.
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810:. 23 May 2023.
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773:. 25 May 2023.
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703:. 16 May 2023.
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549:. 15 May 2023.
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486:. 16 May 2023.
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383:. 18 May 2023.
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350:. 18 May 2023.
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300:Grant Robertson
289:Prime Minister
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210:Fire sprinklers
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164:Property damage
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88:, New Zealand
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73:Loafers Lodge
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27:Infobox event
24:
19:
1367:. Retrieved
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1335:. Retrieved
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1303:. Retrieved
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1136:the Guardian
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934:The Guardian
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903:The Guardian
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443:The Guardian
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1397:New Zealand
304:Tory Whanau
262:accelerants
119: /
107:174°46′40″E
94:Coordinates
21:‹ The
1407:Categories
330:References
250:Onny Parun
193:Background
187:Wellington
104:41°18′24″S
86:Wellington
62:2023-05-16
1144:0261-3077
1002:NZ Herald
942:0261-3077
606:NZ Herald
451:0261-3077
381:NZ Herald
348:NZ Herald
310:Aftermath
285:Reactions
269:arraigned
30:is being
1369:28 March
1363:Archived
1331:Archived
1299:Archived
1266:Archived
1234:Archived
1204:Archived
1178:Archived
1148:Archived
1115:28 March
1109:Archived
1076:Archived
1039:Archived
1006:Archived
976:Archived
946:Archived
907:Archived
876:Archived
845:Archived
812:Archived
775:Archived
736:Archived
705:Archived
672:Archived
641:Archived
637:ABC News
610:Archived
577:Archived
551:Archived
547:ABC News
518:Archived
488:Archived
455:Archived
416:Archived
385:Archived
352:Archived
216:Incident
78:Location
34:. ›
23:template
1337:24 June
1305:24 June
1272:24 June
1082:24 June
1045:24 June
240:Victims
183:Newtown
172:Arrests
82:Newtown
60: (
1383:Portal
1240:16 May
1210:29 May
1184:18 May
1154:15 May
1142:
1067:1 News
1012:1 June
982:19 May
952:22 May
940:
913:17 May
882:17 May
851:24 May
818:28 May
781:28 May
766:1 News
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