Good Samaritans' home goes up in flames: Woman tells judge she will be pleading guilty

The skies were set alight by the blaze which burned the Olivers' house to the ground in Mauriceville. Photo / Nicky Vegar

The woman accused of burning down a house in Mauriceville has said she will be pleading guilty to arson.

The woman, who was taken in by the occupants for the night after her own home burned down, is accused of intentionally damaging by fire the property of Bruce and Corrine Oliver, knowing that danger to life was likely to ensue.

The 50-year-old teacher appeared in the Wellington District Court this afternoon.

"Could I just say that I am actually going to plead guilty?" she asked the judge.

The judge told her she was allowed to say such a thing but he would not enter her plea at this appearance.

She did not object to being remanded in custody, but questioned whether she would have access to music and books, "not just stuck in a cell with nothing, because that's quite debilitating.

"I don't need a television, sir, but I would require some sort of mental stimulation."

The woman, who has interim name suppression, appeared calm and collected as she stood in the dock.

The smouldering site on Opaki Kaiparoro Rd, Mauriceville, where a house was destroyed by fire on Wednesday night. Photo / Hayley Gastmeir

She questioned whether she would be safe if the case was sent back to the Masterton area.

"Would I be safer here in Wellington if the family might want to come and harass me in Masterton?

"I would always have concerns about that, people in this country are violent."

She was remanded to May 16 to appear in court in Masterton.

A mental health report has been ordered.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment.

Firefighters dampening hotspots at the Olivers' family home in Mauriceville. Photo / Hayley Gastmeir