40:
1387:
223:). 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
320:
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.
316:
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
230:
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
317:
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.
309:
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.
195:
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.
482:
699:
730:
1172:
870:
595:
1000:
273:
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.
449:
901:
839:
806:
512:
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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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371:
571:
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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.
1194:
1283:
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276:
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.
474:
691:
291:
722:
288:
called the fire an absolute tragedy. He said that the government will investigate whether regulations for high density accommodation are fit for purpose.
321:
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.
1164:
862:
992:
255:
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
239:
The five deceased victims were identified as: Kenneth
Barnard, 67; Liam James Hockings, 50; Peter Glenn O'Sullivan, 64; Melvin Joseph Parun, 68; and
95:
1422:
433:
893:
829:
796:
504:
184:, 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.
1315:
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227:. 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.
199:
The building's
Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) was renewed in March 2023. BWoF records show the building had a "type 3"
538:"Live: 'Tragic event for all involved': Crews on scene after Wellington hostel fire leaves at least six dead"
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203:(automatic system with heat detectors and manual call points) supplemented by smoke detectors.
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243:(known as Mike the Juggler), 67. It was reported that Parun was the brother of tennis player
1284:"Loafers Lodge fire: 'I think we are all responsible - not just the owners' - Social worker"
262:
On 18 May 2023, a 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of arson. He was
1127:"Wellington hostel fire latest news: six people dead and many missing in New Zealand blaze"
1195:"Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on fatal Wellington hostel fire; it is a horrific situation"
834:
294:
925:"New Zealand hostel fire: suspect remanded in custody after Wellington court appearance"
17:
1401:
596:"Why Loafers Lodge didn't have sprinklers - and firefighter fears over ageing trucks"
285:
1251:"City Mission pays extra $ 1000 to Loafers Lodge residents displaced by deadly fire"
1348:"More recovered possessions returned to victims of Wellington's Loafers Lodge fire"
475:"'I knew I had to jump': What it was like inside Loafers Lodge when fire broke out"
723:"'Debris piled high': Police remove two bodies at fatal Loafers Lodge fire scene"
692:"Fatal Wellington hostel fire: Fire alarms did not sound at scene, resident says"
1094:"Loafers Lodge murder accused will claim defence of insanity, pleads not guilty"
298:
263:
628:"New Zealand police to remove bodies from hostel where at least 6 died in fire"
434:"New Zealand hostel fire: at least six dead and 11 missing in Wellington blaze"
1024:"Loafers Lodge alleged murderer's name to stay secret for at least two months"
256:
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80:
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1165:"Government to review building regulations for high density accommodation"
1061:
1057:"Loafers Lodge fire: Name suppression continues for accused arsonist"
863:"Police confirm arson investigation as teams move into Loafers Lodge"
830:"Street identity 'Mike the Juggler' among Loafers Lodge fire victims"
760:
797:"Wellington hostel fire: Three victims of Loafers Lodge blaze named"
659:"At least six dead after fire engulfs hostel in New Zealand capital"
505:"Loafers Lodge had a building WOF, but what exactly does that mean?"
259:
were used on the fire or why they believe it was deliberately lit.
215:
A fire broke out on the top floor of the 92-room lodge around 12:25
894:"Deadly Wellington hostel fire being treated as arson, police say"
1316:"Ex-Loafers Lodge residents gain legal reprieve over belongings"
1066:
963:"Man charged over fatal Loafers Lodge fire tries to sack lawyer"
765:
176:
On 16 May 2023, a fire broke out at the 92-bed
Loafers Lodge in
372:"Man charged with two counts of arson after fatal hostel fire"
231:
past months, there were delays in responding and evacuating.
993:"Loafers Lodge fire: Man charged with five counts of murder"
1221:"A 'dark day' for Wellington - Mayor on tragic hostel fire"
297:
said the fire was absolutely devastating. Wellington mayor
339:"Hostel fire: Hearse arrives as police recover two bodies"
568:"Loafers Lodge fire engineer wants safety rules revamped"
301:
called the fire "one of the darkest days in the city".
403:"Wellington fatal hostel fire: What is Loafers Lodge?"
1375:
756:"Two more Loafers Lodge fire victims named by police"
27:
2023 fire in Loafers Lodge in Wellington, New Zealand
166:
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657:Arias, Tatiana; Subramaniam, Tara (16 May 2023).
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8:
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162:Fire damage, partial collapse of building
1382:
923:Graham-McLay, Charlotte (19 May 2023).
892:Graham-McLay, Charlotte (17 May 2023).
330:
1092:Nightingale, Melissa (22 March 2024).
1022:Nightingale, Melissa (23 June 2023).
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251:Investigation and legal proceedings
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1055:Frykberg, Laura (23 June 2023).
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593:Coughlan, Thomas (16 May 2023).
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349:from the original on 18 May 2023
1125:Sullivan, Helen (15 May 2023).
1423:May 2023 events in New Zealand
1282:Hickman, Bill (16 June 2023).
1197:. Stuff/Fairfax. 16 May 2023.
1:
861:Chin, Frances (17 May 2023).
721:Chin, Frances (18 May 2023).
432:McClure, Tess (16 May 2023).
401:Sharpe, Marty (15 May 2023).
44:Loafers Lodge in August 2021
626:Perry, Nick (17 May 2023).
1454:
1438:2023 crimes in New Zealand
1428:Residential building fires
828:Hunt, Tom (22 May 2023).
570:. Radio NZ. 17 May 2023.
138:Unknown (suspected arson)
37:
1099:The New Zealand Herald
1029:The New Zealand Herald
111:41.30674°S 174.77773°E
18:Wellington hostel fire
1408:2023 fires in Oceania
292:Wellington Central MP
53:16 May 2023
1418:Fires in New Zealand
116:-41.30674; 174.77773
1433:2023 in New Zealand
1413:2020s in Wellington
107: /
34:
266:in the Wellington
241:Mike Eric Wahrlich
225:Fire and Emergency
151:Non-fatal injuries
33:Loafers Lodge fire
1356:. 26 March 2024.
1353:Radio New Zealand
1321:Radio New Zealand
1289:Radio New Zealand
1256:Radio New Zealand
802:Radio New Zealand
201:fire alarm system
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16:(Redirected from
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1324:. 23 June 2023.
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1259:. 7 June 2023.
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1227:. 16 May 2023.
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1171:. 17 May 2023.
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805:. 23 May 2023.
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378:. 18 May 2023.
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345:. 18 May 2023.
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295:Grant Robertson
284:Prime Minister
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205:Fire sprinklers
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159:Property damage
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83:, New Zealand
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68:Loafers Lodge
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1362:. Retrieved
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1330:. Retrieved
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1131:the Guardian
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438:The Guardian
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1392:New Zealand
299:Tory Whanau
257:accelerants
114: /
102:174°46′40″E
89:Coordinates
1402:Categories
325:References
245:Onny Parun
188:Background
182:Wellington
99:41°18′24″S
81:Wellington
57:2023-05-16
1139:0261-3077
997:NZ Herald
937:0261-3077
601:NZ Herald
446:0261-3077
376:NZ Herald
343:NZ Herald
305:Aftermath
280:Reactions
264:arraigned
1364:28 March
1358:Archived
1326:Archived
1294:Archived
1261:Archived
1229:Archived
1199:Archived
1173:Archived
1143:Archived
1110:28 March
1104:Archived
1071:Archived
1034:Archived
1001:Archived
971:Archived
941:Archived
902:Archived
871:Archived
840:Archived
807:Archived
770:Archived
731:Archived
700:Archived
667:Archived
636:Archived
632:ABC News
605:Archived
572:Archived
546:Archived
542:ABC News
513:Archived
483:Archived
450:Archived
411:Archived
380:Archived
347:Archived
211:Incident
73:Location
1332:24 June
1300:24 June
1267:24 June
1077:24 June
1040:24 June
235:Victims
178:Newtown
167:Arrests
77:Newtown
55: (
1378:Portal
1235:16 May
1205:29 May
1179:18 May
1149:15 May
1137:
1062:1 News
1007:1 June
977:19 May
947:22 May
935:
908:17 May
877:17 May
846:24 May
813:28 May
776:28 May
761:1 News
737:18 May
706:16 May
673:16 May
642:18 May
611:16 May
578:29 May
552:15 May
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