Service to remember fire victims

A public remembrance service for the five people who died in the Loafers Lodge fire has been scheduled for mid-June – a month after the tragedy.

Michael Eric Wahrlich, 67, also known as Mike the Juggler; Melvin Parun, 68; Kenneth Barnard, 67; Peter Glenn O’Sullivan, 64; and Liam James Hockings, 50, died after a suspected arson early on the morning of May 16 tore through the Newtown lodge.

Wellington City Council yesterday announced that a public service of remembrance will be held at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, at 2 Hill St, at 5.30pm on June 15. It will be led by the Rev Katie Lawrence.

‘‘This is an opportunity to come together and share the grief we’ve felt over the past few weeks as we remember those who lost their lives and homes,’’ mayor Tory Whanau said.

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge, who helped to arrange the service with the mayor and church, described it as a chance to ‘‘acknowledge the extent of this tragedy, to pay tribute to those that have come to help, and to demonstrate our collective aroha and manākitanga for those impacted by this terrible event’’.

A statement from police yesterday confirmed that everyone known to be in the Newtown lodge on the night of the fire, which killed five people, had been accounted for.

Multiple investigations are under way, and a man has been charged with arson.