Loafers Lodge remembrance service to be held in Wellington after devastating blaze

A Loafers Lodge remembrance service for those who lost their lives in the devastating blaze, and those affected by the tragedy, will be held in Wellington next month.

Police have now confirmed everyone who lived in the hostel has now been accounted for. There were 99 people known to be residents at the time of the blaze.

“The scene examination as it relates to the criminal and coronial investigation is expected to wrap up on Friday, following which the scene will be blessed and handed over to Fire and Emergency NZ,” a police spokesperson said.

Five people died in the fire. They were Kenneth Barnard, 67, Liam James Hockings, 50, Peter Glenn O’Sullivan, 64, former lawyer Melvin Joseph Parun, 68, and Michael Wahrlich, 67, known by many as Mike the Juggler.

A 48-year-old man has been charged with two counts of arson in relation to the fire. He has appeared in the Wellington District Court where he was remanded in custody to reappear next month. He has interim name suppression.

A service of remembrance will be held at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, 2 Hill St, at 5.30pm on Thursday June 15.

The date of the service marks one month on from the fire. It will be led by the Reverend Canon Katie Lawrence and will be open to the public.

Mayor Tory Whanau said it will be an opportunity to come together and share the grief from the past few weeks as the city remembered those who lost their lives and homes.

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge said the service will allow people to acknowledge the extent of the tragedy.

“To pay tribute to those that have come to help and to demonstrate our collective aroha and manākitanga for those impacted by this terrible event.”

A mayoral relief fund was set up in the wake of the fire. It has raised $346,000 to help those who have been affected.

In an update this morning, Wellington City Mission reported $71,300 of the fund has now been distributed.

Of that, $47,500 has been given in cash, $2723 has gone towards accommodation, $2390 has been spent on medical and dental services, $2587 on whiteware, and $11,198 on flights for whānau.

Yesterday it was revealed Wellington City Council only conducted on-site inspections at Loafers Lodge twice in the past decade, despite advice it would be more appropriate for such checks to happen every year.

The most recent check in 2018 found several problems including items being stored in an escape route that could combust in an emergency or block the fire exit.

Fire and smoke doors designed to prevent fire from spreading were also wedged open.

Wellington City Council chief planning officer Liam Hodgetts said the problems were worked on with the building owner over the following months and an infringement notice was issued.

It has also been revealed the Fire Service did not support a building consent application for an extension to Loafers Lodge claiming the proposal did “not demonstrate that any level of safety has been provided”.