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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Max Rashbrooke

One year ago, a deadly boarding house fire shook New Zealand. We must prevent another tragedy

Firefighters inspect the Loafers Lodge hostel where a fire broke on May 16 2023
After the Loafers Lodge fire on 16 May 2023, the government launched an investigation into safety and compliance at boarding houses across New Zealand – and found widespread compliance issues. Loafers Lodge wasn’t part of the investigation. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images

One year ago, Wellington’s mayor said her city had endured one of its “darkest days” after a fire broke out at the Loafers Lodge boarding house, killing five people. On that day the air in New Zealand’s capital filled with black smoke and soot, and the city later mourned the loss of some of its most vulnerable residents.

Twelve months on, not enough is being done to prevent another such tragedy, experts believe.

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