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Wellington fire: Multiple people dead after large fire breaks out at Loafers Lodge
Multiple people are dead after a fire broke out at a four-storey hostel building in central Wellington overnight.
Fire and Emergency were called to the Loafers Lodge hostel, on Adelaide Rd, just before 12.30am where a fire was well involved on the top floor.
The blaze was quickly elevated to a fifth alarm, with 20 fire trucks on the scene by 4am.
Wellington Fire and Emergency District Manager Nick Pyatt said 52 people have been accounted for from the building, with a number of people still unaccounted for and multiple people will be dead.
“I can sadly report that this will be a multi-fatality incident. Our thoughts at this time are with the families of those who have perished and with our crews who valiantly rescued those and attempted to rescue those that they couldn’t,” he said.
“This is our worst nightmare. It doesn’t get worse than this.”
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Pyatt said the roof of the hostel is at risk of collapse and there is asbestos present as an added risk.
People in the Wellington CBD are advised to wear a face mask due to the asbestos risk and residents in the area should stay inside with their windows and doors closed due to the smoke plume.
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Wellington mayor Tory Whanau held back tears as she spoke of the devastation for the city.
“I’m devastated,” she told TVNZ’s Breakfast.
“I dare say it’s been a shock to the system – a very emotional few minutes with the crew here.”
“Excuse me,” Whanau said, getting emotional live on air.
Taking a deep breath, she said it was a strange situation to be in as the city’s mayor, acknowledging she was very emotional at the moment.
”I’m feeling a lot of pain and emotion at those who have been lost.”
Whanau acknowledged the work that firefighters and emergency services had done overnight to rescue as many people from the building as possible.
She also acknowledged how difficult the situation is for those firefighters.
“I’m feeling the emotion and the remorse here as well,” Whanau said.
Five people rescued from roof
Fire crews rescued five people off the roof of the building using an aerial appliance.
Five people have been taken to Wellington Hospital, one in a serious condition and four in a moderate condition.
Fifteen other people were treated at the scene and did not require transport for further medical treatment.
Dramatic video footage and photos taken by locals show large flames coming from the building.
Members of the public who took to social media overnight reported that at one point, as the blaze appeared to be brought under control by firefighters, it started up again.
A caller to Newstalk ZB, Wesley, said he was looking down on the fire from the Newtown Park Apartments.
“I can see it from my kitchen window. There’s a lot of smoke. I’ve occasionally been able to see flames.”
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Traffic delays and diversions
Motorists in the area are being told of delays as emergency services remain at the scene early this morning. Adelaide Rd is closed from John St.
The Wellington City Council said drivers and other commuters are advised to take alternative routes and expect delays this morning as a result of the blaze.
“Buses and other traffic between the central city and southern suburbs is likely to be diverted for several hours, at least, and delays can be expected.
“Bus passengers are advised to check the Metlink website for further details.”
Metlink said all bus services that use Newtown heading toward and away from the city will detour until further notice, affecting most Newtown routes.
SOURCE NZ HERALD
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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