Latest news with #MichaelWahrlich
Scoop
19-06-2025
- Scoop
Charges Laid Over Deaths In New Zealand Hostel Fire
New Zealand Police announced on June 5 that three people had been charged with manslaughter over a May 2023 boarding house fire in Wellington that killed five people. A fourth person has also subsequently been charged. The charges were laid after a two-year investigation into whether the condition of the 52-year-old, four-storey Loafers Lodge and its fire safety systems 'contributed to the fatal outcome.' Detective Sergeant Timothy Leitch said the people charged were 'involved with the management and operation of the building, and police allege they were responsible for aspects of the building's fire safety system.' Two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman, appeared in the Wellington District Court facing five charges of manslaughter, one for each victim. They are alleged to have failed to take reasonable precautions and care to avoid danger to life. They face an alternative set of manslaughter charges alleging failure to comply with duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The fourth person charged, a 72-year-old man, also entered no plea when he appeared in court on June 9. The charges are the first of their kind in New Zealand, it being the first time that police have charged anyone involved in maintaining a building with manslaughter. The courts suppressed the names of all four and remanded them on bail until their appearance in the High Court on June 19. Shortly after the 2023 fire, a 50-year-old man who lived at the boarding house was accused of deliberately lighting it. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to face trial in August, charged with five counts of murder and two of arson. His lawyer has indicated a defence of insanity will be lodged. The five residents who died in the blaze which gutted the building were: Michael Wahrlich, 67, a street performer known around town as Mike the Juggler, Melvin Parun, 68, Kenneth Barnard, 67, Peter O'Sullivan, 64, and Liam Hockings, 50. More than 90 people, many of them long-term residents, were staying at the boarding house when the fire broke out on the third floor at 12:25 a.m. on May 16. About 50 survivors were forced to take refuge at an evacuation centre in Newtown Park. Many lost everything in the fire. The 92-room lodge was a death trap. It had no sprinkler system, which firefighters said would have saved lives, and only one functional exit. Fire alarms were reportedly faulty, with some residents saying they only went off in part of the building, and others saying there were so many false alarms that people had learned to ignore them. The fire spread rapidly, making it impossible for many to reach the stairwell to escape. Resident Simon Hanify told the World Socialist Web Site that the front door had been 'sealed shut for about a month; someone kicked it in.' A notice said: 'Door broken, use side entrance.' Some people who could not reach the stairwell to the side entrance were forced to jump onto the roof of an adjacent building. Others were rescued from the rooftop by a fire truck ladder. Some residents were, he said, 'mentally ill or medicated, or infirm, or old, and they wouldn't have stood a chance.' Others spoke of the rooms infested with bed bugs and the lifts frequently not working. Hanify was charged $280 a week for the room, including power, while some were charged as much as $320. 'Do the maths for 92 rooms—and they can't even put a sprinkler system in or replace the roof,' Hanify said. Loafers Lodge is a microcosm of the social crisis affecting ever wider layers of the New Zealand working class. It was home to low-paid shift workers, including meat processing workers, hospital staff, as well as unemployed and elderly people unable to find affordable housing elsewhere. Many were among the city's poorest and lived there for lack of any better options. Murray Edridge, from the Wellington City Mission charity, told the Guardian: 'A significant proportion of residents of the lodge are under our care. This is an absolute disaster. These are people who are inherently vulnerable anyway.' Survivor Alan Potter told the Post following the charges: 'That's the news I wanted to hear.' The 78-year-old has long called for an inquiry into the deadly fire, beyond just charging a man with lighting it. 'I believe it's an institutional failure,' he said. Liam Hockings' family released a statement saying: 'This tragedy has highlighted serious concerns about the safety and conditions of some accommodation, particularly for vulnerable people in our communities who are often housed in buildings like this… 'Everyone deserves a safe place to live—regardless of their circumstances—and we urge all those who own, operate, or manage buildings to take their responsibilities seriously. Lives literally depend on it.' The family was still coming to terms with Liam's death. 'He would have turned 53 just a few days ago,' they said. While the building's managers are now facing legal consequences, the entire ruling elite, including the previous Labour-led government, bears responsibility for creating both the legal framework and social conditions that allowed it. Following the fire, Labour's then Housing Minister Megan Wood declared that Loafers Lodge had passed an inspection by the Wellington City Council and 'met the requirements of the Building Act.' While some countries require sprinklers in buildings of four storeys and above, in New Zealand they are required only for buildings more than 10 storeys high. The fire was a product of the assault on the living standards of the working class, particularly the basic right to decent housing. Loafers Lodge was one of hundreds of boarding houses that are essentially dumping grounds for thousands of people who cannot afford soaring private rents and are unable to access limited public housing. In the five years preceding the fire, including during the Ardern-led Labour government from 2017, Wellington's median rent went up by 33 percent, pushing more people into precarious housing. The waiting list for state housing more than quadrupled from 5,353 in June 2017 to 24,080 in March 2023. More than 100,000 people were estimated to be homeless or in severely substandard housing—about 2 percent of the population. The situation continues to worsen under the current far-right National Party-NZ First-ACT coalition government, which took office in 2023. Figures released in March showed that the number of people sleeping rough had risen 53 percent in Auckland and 40 percent in Wellington. Housing First Auckland manager Rami Alrudani told Radio NZ last month that his organisation was seeing 'more and more homelessness every day.' Last year, the government imposed stricter rules making it more difficult for people to access emergency housing. Among the government's many anti-working-class policies, there has been a massive tax cut for landlords, including many MPs who are property investors, estimated to have cost $NZ2.9 billion. The government falsely claimed this would lead to more affordable rents. According to Infometrics, average rent has risen by 2.7 percent in the past year, in line with inflation, to $575 per week and $592 in metropolitan areas. The government is meanwhile moving to water down health and safety regulations. The regulator WorkSafe will be 'reformed' to reduce the 'burden' on businesses and 'rebalance' its focus away from enforcement and towards 'advice.' More than a hundred jobs have been cut at the agency. This sets the stage for similar tragedies to the Wellington fire, not only in slum boarding houses but more broadly. By John Braddock, Socialist Equality Group 12 June 2025
1News
09-06-2025
- 1News
Fourth person charged with manslaughter over Loafers Lodge fire
A fourth person has been charged with manslaughter over the Loafers Lodge fire that killed five people in Wellington in 2023. Three people were charged with manslaughter last week following a two-year investigation into whether the state of the building and the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the fatal outcome. Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O'Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings died in the blaze that began shortly after midnight on May 16, 2023. A 72-year-old man is set to appear in Wellington District Court on Monday. Last week, two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman appeared in the Wellington District Court facing manslaughter charges. ADVERTISEMENT Detective Sergeant Olivia Meares said police allege all four were responsible for aspects of the building's fire safety systems. A 50-year-old man had previously been charged with murder in relation to deliberately lighting the fire. A trial is scheduled to start before the Wellington High Court on August 25. The fire broke out at the Loafers Lodge, in Newtown, early this morning. (Source: Breakfast) Police, Fire and Emergency NZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reminded those who owned or managed buildings, particularly buildings with sleeping accommodation, of their responsibility to ensure occupants were protected from fire. These included ensuring the necessary evacuation procedures were in place, with an approved evacuation scheme if it was a "relevant building", and ensuring the means of escape from fire were maintained. "Where applicable, ensure you understand the maintenance requirements for the specified systems outlined in your building's compliance schedule as required under the Building Act. Particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm." Those who owned a tenanted residential property should ensure fire safety obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 were met.
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- RNZ News
Fourth person charged with manslaughter over fatal Loafers Lodge fire
Photo: RNZ /Angus Dreaver A fourth person has been charged with manslaughter over the fire at Loafers Lodge that killed five of the building's residents. The charges follow a two-year investigation by police. Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O'Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings died in the overnight blaze. A man is set to appear in the Wellington District Court on Monday. Last week three people appeared in court charged with manslaughter. They are two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman. Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man, who has name suppression, is charged with murder and arson. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due to stand trial in August.
RNZ News
04-06-2025
- RNZ News
Loafers Lodge fire: Three people charged with manslaughter following two-year police investigation
Five people died in the devastating blaze that began shortly after midnight on May 16, 2023. Photo: Supplied / Axel Dann Three people have been charged with manslaughter in relation to the Loafers Lodge fire that killed five of the building's 92 residents. The charges follow a two-year investigation by police into the state of the building, and whether the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the outcome. Michael Wahrlich, Melvin Parun, Peter O'Sullivan, Kenneth Barnard and Liam Hockings died in the devastating blaze that began shortly after midnight on May 16, 2023. A 50-year-old man, who has name suppression, was charged with murder and arson. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due to stand trial in August. On Thursday, Wellington police's area investigations manager Detective Senior Sergeant Timothy Leitch said three other people had been charged with manslaughter in relation to the fire. Michael Wahrlich one of the five people killed in the blaze. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone "Since the tragedy a team of Police have been dedicated to an investigation to establish if the state of the building and the management and compliance of its fire safety systems contributed to the fatal outcome." The people charged were involved with the management and operation of the building and police allege they were responsible for aspects of the building fire safety, Leitch said. Those charged are two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman. They will appear in the Wellington District Court later today facing five charges of Manslaughter. "Police have spoken to a third man and expect to also charge him with manslaughter in the coming days." In a statement, Liam Hockings' family say they're still coming to terms with his death. "He would have turned 53, just a few days ago. Liam was much loved - an intelligent, caring, and unforgettable character. His absence has left a huge void in our lives and in the wider Newtown community that knew and cherished him." They said the charges were a step towards accountability, though nothing would bring Liam back. "This tragedy has highlighted serious concerns about the safety and conditions of some accommodation, particularly for vulnerable people in our communities who are often housed in buildings like this. Everyone deserves a safe place to live - regardless of their circumstances - and we urge all those who own, operate, or manage buildings to take their responsibilities seriously. Buildings must be safe, compliant, well maintained. Lives literally depend on it. "We hope that, through this process, Liam's death will not have been in vain, and that it may lead to real, lasting change that protects others in the future, so that no other family has to endure what we have." Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment wanted to take the opportunity to remind all those who own or manage a building, particularly buildings with sleeping accommodation, of their responsibility to ensure those who occupy their premises are protected from fire. This included ensuring their obligations are met under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act by having the necessary evacuation procedures in place, and an approved evacuation scheme if you have a "relevant building" and ensuring the means of escape from fire for the building were maintained as outlined in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Regulations 2018. "Where applicable, ensure you understand the maintenance requirements for the specified systems outlined in your building's compliance schedule as required under the Building Act. Particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm." The lodge in 2025. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Owners of a tenanted residential property are also reminded to ensure their fire safety obligations are met under the Residential Tenancies Act. "The loss of life and injuries experienced during this fire were preventable, and Police would like to acknowledge the long-term impact, on those who lost loved ones, the residents who lost their friends, their home and treasured personal property, as well as the many others that have been affected by the far reaching and devastating event." The fire triggered a series of inquiries into fire protections. A Wellington City Council audit released in June 2023 found 25 similar buildings to Loafers Lodge in the capital. Twenty-one had a current building warrant of fitness, one never had one and three did, but they were not current. Following the fire, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) launched a probe into 37 buildings like Loafers Lodge (buildings that were at least three storeys tall, a boarding house and had no sprinklers). It found more than 100 problems, including smoke detectors not working and unmonitored alarm systems. It also found the boarding houses were on average 60 years old. Most were not built originally to be accommodation and 69 per cent had problems with safety systems. MBIE's head of building system, delivery and assurance Simon Thomas said in May issues around building warrant of fitness inspections had been resolved as of October last year. In addition to further guidance on building warrant of fitness compliance, an amendment to the Building Act in November 2024 increased fines and penalties for breaches, he said. After the probe into boarding houses, the government asked MBIE to do a full review of the building code's fire safety provisions. At the end of last year, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said it was unable to release a review into how it responded to the fatal fire while a criminal investigation was under way.
