Emergency Services
'Disgust' after Australian police taser 95-year-old woman
The next few days will be "critical" for a 95-year-old woman who was tasered by a New South Wales police officer the state's police commissioner says.
Emergency call-takers were 'talking to people who were trapped, injured, and crying out for help'
A 111 team leader and firefighters' union Wellington president say call-takers were short staffed the night of the fatal Loafers Lodge fire - and they're struggling with feeling they should have done…
Man charged with arson after fatal hostel fire
A man will appear in court this afternoon on two counts of arson in relation to Tuesday's deadly fire, and police are not ruling out further serious charges. At least six people died in the fire at… Audio
'Someone's trying to burn the place down' - Convicted arsonist tells of rush to warn residents
Raymond Lauder says he had an uneasy feeling when he came across a couch fire on Monday night, ahead of the fatal blaze.
Firefighters union on hostel fire, state of fleet
Ian Wright was in the command centre at Loafers Lodge during the fire, and he's the president of the Professional Firefighters Union. He spoke with Jane Patterson. Audio
Questions remain over hotel fire
A man has been arrested and charged with arson in relation to the fatal Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington on Monday night. He is scheduled to appear in the Wellington District Court this morning, and… Audio
Loafers Lodge fire a 'harrowing night' - emergency call taker
A man has been arrested and charged with arson in relation to the Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington on Monday night. He is scheduled to appear in the Wellington District Court on Friday and police… Audio
Hostel fire prompts call for urgent overhaul of legislation
The fire engineering sector says a review of fire engineering legislation is urgently needed.
Loafers Lodge Fire: Man charged with arson
Police have arrested a man in relation to the Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington on Monday night. He's been charged with two counts of arson and is scheduled to appear in the Wellington District Court… Audio
Larger fire truck absence limits how blaze can be tackled, firefighter says
If two of the country's largest fire trucks had got to the Loafers Lodge blaze, and sooner, they could have got more water on, a senior firefighter says .
Police begin recovering bodies from Loafers Lodge fire scene
Watch: Police talking about their investigation into Tuesday's deadly fire at a Wellington hostel and plans to retrieve two bodies today, and two more on Friday.
Wellington fire: aging fleet a challenge - FENZ
Fire and Emergency says it needs significant investment to improve its fleet and equipment, but has a $900 million hole. 33 trucks from across Wellington responded to the fire, but only one with a… Audio
Wellington fire: Police to start body recovery today
Police have begun a scene examination at Loafers Lodge, the site of a deadly fire on Tuesday morning. They say debris is piled high and there will be a lot to move.They hope to start recovering bodies… Audio
Watch: FENZ 'had enough crews and specialist appliances to respond to Newtown fire' - CEO
Fire and Emergency's chief executive has spoken to media about concerns over the organisation's equipment in the wake of the hostel fire on Tuesday.
Hostel fire survivors feel weight of tragedy
As the adrenaline wears off - survivors of the Hostel Fire Tragedy say they're just starting to feel the full weight of what they've been through. At the Newton Community Centre - a team of trauma… Audio
Firefighters keep diary to record Newtown 225's mechanical woes
They have been recording all the problems with a fire truck with a long ladder that has spent just 45 days in operation in almost three years.
Diary of a broken down fire truck
Investigations continue, including into the role played by Fire and Emergency in the rescue of five people off the roof. A truck with a 32-metre ladder was used, but a second long-ladder truck was not… Audio
Police hostel search to intensify
An intensive police search of the Loafers Lodge in Wellington is due to start today. Six people are confirmed to have died in a blaze there on Tuesday, but up to 20 people are still unaccounted for… Audio
Hostel fire treated as arson - Police
Police say it will be days before they know how many people have died in the horrific Wellington hostel fire. The fire in Loafers Lodge on Tuesday morning is now being treated as arson and a homicide… Audio
Searchers find body in ranges near Nelson
A body has been found by search teams in the Richmond Range, police say.