Govt House arson accused bailed

A 38-year-old man charged in connection with a molotov cocktail attack on Government House last Friday has been remanded on bail to reappear later this month.

Anthony Robert Young appeared in Wellington District Court this morning charged with arson and was remanded to reappear on May 28.

Judge Jocelyn Munro imposed a 9pm to 6am curfew on Young and told him not to go to Government House or loiter around its gates.

Police allege the man placed several homemade molotov cocktails against an outbuilding at the perimeter of the expansive property in Wellington's Newtown suburb about 10pm.

Detective Senior Sergeant Donna Howard of Wellington CIB said the incendiaries were alight when Government House security staff found them and put them out.

They could have seriously damaged the outbuilding if they had exploded, but they only caused minor damage to the cladding and downpiping, she said.

The official residence of the Governor General has been a construction zone since 2008 as it undergoes a $42.7 million refit which is due to be completed next year.

Sir Anand Satyanand has been living in Vogel House, in Lower Hutt, while the work takes place.

- NZPA