Latest news with #FireandEmergencyNewZealandAct2017
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Scoop
Third Offender Sentenced For Offences Relating To The 2022 Awarua Wetlands Wildfire During A Total Fire Ban
Fire and Emergency New Zealand acknowledges the sentence handed down in the Invercargill District Court yesterday for an offence under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017. Acting Deputy Chief Executive Service Delivery Operations Ken Cooper says the offender had pleaded guilty to allowing a fire lit by another person to get out of control and spread on 2 April 2022 during a prohibited fire season. "This fire became the Awarua Wetlands fire in Southland which burned through 1,330 hectares of an internationally recognised conservation area, and which took a week for our firefighters to extinguish," Ken Cooper says. "On 23 January this year two other offenders were sentenced for offences relating to the 2022 Awarua Wetlands fire including lighting a fire during a prohibited fire season and allowing fire to get out of control and spread," Ken Cooper says. "Today's sentence was handed down to the third and last of the three, all of whom had pleaded guilty to offences relating to the Awarua Wetlands fire. "Fire and Emergency declares, or revokes prohibited or restricted fire seasons based on weather and ground conditions. We do this to prevent fires and keep people, property, and the environment safe from unwanted fire." Ken Cooper says it is essential to not light fires in prohibited fire seasons, or in restricted seasons without a fire permit, and to check the weather conditions. "Most people comply with the requirements, but clear breaches of fire safety legislation carry penalties," he says. "Given the significance of the impact of the Awarua Wetlands fire, and the fact the area was under a total fire ban, we considered it appropriate to prosecute three individuals for the fire." Ken Cooper says while fire risk is higher in summer, Fire and Emergency asks people who are considering lighting a fire in the outdoors at any time of the year to check the local fire danger and fire season at "Always make sure your fire is fully extinguished and check again the next day. If your fire gets out of control, you must call Fire and Emergency on 111 as soon as possible. "Everyone should make an effort to know the fire danger and fire season and get fire safety advice at whatever they're doing and wherever they are."
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Scoop
Manslaughter Charges For Three People Related To The Loafers Lodge Fatal Fire
Today, Police have charged three people with manslaughter in relation to the fatal fire at Loafers Lodge on 16 May 2023. Two men aged 75 and 58, and a 70-year-old woman will appear in the Wellington District Court later today, each facing charges of manslaughter. Police have spoken to a third man and expect to also charge him with manslaughter in the coming days. A dedicated team at Police has been working since the tragedy 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 we have charged today 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. Police previously charged a 50-year-old man with murder in relation to deliberately lighting the fatal fire. This matter is before the High Court, with a trial scheduled to start on 25 August 2025. Police, Fire and Emergency and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment would like to take this 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. • Ensure your obligations are met under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 by having the necessary evacuation procedures in place, and an approved evacuation scheme if you have a 'relevant building'. • Ensure the means of escape from fire for your building are 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 2004, particularly those relating to the building emergency warning system or fire alarm. • If you are the owner of a tenanted residential property, ensure your fire safety obligations are met under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. 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. As this matter is now before the courts, police will not be commenting further.
