Category: Radio New Zealand

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‘There’s no excuses from us’: Robertson on All Blacks’ inability to maintain pressure

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wales v All Blacks

Kick-off: 4:10am Sunday 23 November

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live blog updates on RNZ

Coach Scott Robertson has said that the feeling in the All Black camp is much the same one day on from their 33-19 loss to England. It was the third loss this season in a schedule of 13 tests, and the second by a significant margin following a record defeat to the Springboks during the Rugby Championship.

READ MORE:

All Blacks crash to defeat against England

Grand slammed – what went wrong for the All Blacks against England

All Blacks: Scott Robertson, Scott Barrett reflect on big loss to England

The aftermath of the loss to England sees focus now firmly on the issues that have plagued the All Blacks for the past two seasons, most notably their inability to keep teams under pressure in big tests.

“There’s lots of different reasons, but there’s no excuses from us. And we’ve got to be better in some areas so we can finish teams off,” said Robertson this morning.

“Ultimately, we want to be as consistent as we possibly can, that’s what a professional team wants to be, consistent with everything you work with. You’re not going to win every moment in games, but you’ve got to fight your way back into it, through adversity.

“When you it doesn’t quite come all together, you know, that’s the part that hurts. It’s not for lack of care, I’ll put it that way. But it’s definitely frustration that we work so hard to be consistent and that’s the part that gets you.”

Robertson, who came into the All Black job after seven consecutive championship seasons with the Crusaders, acknowledged that ‘test rugby is pretty brutal’.

Caleb Clarke lays during the Scotland v All Blacks test at Murrayfield. www.photosport.nz

“You lose a couple of player each game on average, just through the Ferocity of the match contacts. The recovery part becomes tougher, the travel, everything that comes with it.

“So when you get energy, new faces, new bodies coming in that, that excitement that…it’s a balance. Sometimes you have all the best laid plans of how you’re going to play, then you come off the field in these the medical ward are fuller than you’d expect.”

Steve Borthwick’s England side notably adjusted their game plan throughout Sunday morning’s test, with a heavy reliance on the kicking game of inside back pairing Alex Mitchell and George Ford. Robertson acknowledged that the aerial game was still a work on for New Zealand players, due to the comparative lack of exposure to it in the domestic game here.

English halfback Alex Mitchell. David Rogers/Getty Images

“It’s a crucial part, an important part of the game…we don’t tend to do it so much in Super Rugby. So coming into test rugby, you have got the most accurate kickers in the world and you’ve got incredible aerial catches. We spend a lot of time on it, look, we’ve got to get better laid plans.”

From a wider perspective, Robertson said that new NZ Rugby chairman and former All Black captain David Kirk has been ‘straight up’ with expectations two years out from the next World Cup.

“Look, he’s pretty pragmatic, he tells you how it is. Straight up, as you’d expect. (Also) hugely supportive. He understands good relationships in the group and we welcome him with open arms…he’s been great to us.”

Unsurprisingly, Robertson more or less confirmed there will be wholesale changes to the side for the last test match of the year. They face Wales in Cardiff, with the home team recording their first win in two years over the weekend when they defeated Japan 24-22 thanks to a last play penalty goal.

“There’ll be some fresh, new energy in the group for sure,” said Robertson, who singled out Ruben Love as a player who will likely start this weekend.

“He’s obviously a 15 that can play 10 and he deserves an opportunity.”

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Rising threshold for police help in mental health callouts

Source: Radio New Zealand

The controversial four-stage Mental Health Response Change programme started a year ago. RNZ / Marika Khabazi

The police are introducing higher thresholds for responding to calls from mental health workers to help deal with unwell patients or those who abscond.

It is the third phase of the controversial four-stage Mental Health Response Change programme, which started a year ago as part of the police pull-back from responding to mental distress call-outs.

Under phase three, which kicks in on Monday:

  • Non-emergency mental health-related requests will be assessed against updated guidance to determine if police assistance is required. This includes requests for assistance under legislation, requests for assistance from in-patient mental health units and other requests from mental health services to police.
  • Reports of missing persons with mental health concerns (including those who have left mental health facilities and services or EDs) will be assessed against updated guidance to determine the appropriate police involvement.

Over the past 12 months, police have gradually withdrawn their support at mental health callouts, including at inpatient wards, community facilities, during transportation and at emergency departments, and banned mental health assessments in custody suites.

Moves leaves ‘unacceptable gaps’ – union

The Public Service Association (PSA) condemned the change programme, saying it left mental health workers and patients unacceptably vulnerable to harm. National secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the changes were “dangerous and will cause harm”.

“We call on Health NZ to properly consider the support needed given the withdrawal of police from this important work.”

For both new procedures, staff could engage police only when there was “an imminent threat” to life or property.

The change also meant that these emergency calls would be triaged along with every other request that came through the 111 line, Fitzsimons said.

Fleur Fitzsimons. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“Mental health nurses and healthcare assistants work in what can be quite dangerous conditions, with very unwell people who can act unpredictably – they must have a direct line to police.

“Health NZ has said it does not expect them to put themselves in harm’s way, but the reality is that for many situations workers must at least do an assessment in-person, leaving themselves open to verbal and physical abuse.

“Furthermore, mental healthcare is legally highly complex. Security staff, for example, don’t have the same rights under the Mental Health Act as clinicians do. There are a whole lot of practical realities Health NZ seems to refuse to acknowledge.”

Mental health staff were worried for patients as well as their own safety.

“Mental health workers understand that the police can’t do everything. But there are a whole lot of what-ifs that haven’t been thought through, and at the end of the day patients and families are the ones who miss out.”

RNZ has approached Health NZ and police for comment.

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Tongariro National Park tracks re-open following massive wildfire

Source: Radio New Zealand

The charred landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Supplied/DOC

The charred landscape will add to the experience for those walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the Department of Conservation says.

A week-long rāhui was lifted on Monday following the wildfire that ripped through 3000 hectares of the national park.

DOC and Fire and Emergency will continue to monitor the area for hotspots but are confident that people will be safe on the tracks.

DOC director of heritage and visitors Catherine Wilson told Morning Report it had been a huge week battling the blaze.

“The walk is perfectly fine to do, but the landscape is very black.”

Visitors could only access the start of the track on Mangatepopo Road by booking a shuttle.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky, [but] there has been a little bit of damage focused around the Mangatepopo entranceway, the car park area there,” Wilson said.

“The beautiful new Pou, Te Ririō, is still standing… got a little bit of charring but I think that just adds to it. It’s a spectacular Pou and we’re really pleased that that was able to be saved but there is some damage.”

Wilson said it would be a different experience on some parts of the track.

“We’ve been really lucky that the majority of the Tongariro Crossing hasn’t been affected but the first 700 metres or so, it will be quite a charred landscape.

“It was awe-inspiring before and will be even more so now.”

Local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro placed a decade-long rāhui on areas where fires have damaged the whenua and native vegetation.

The second rāhui was put in place to heal and restore the land

“It’s about keeping people out, it’s about working together to fix the land and heal the land over some time because we know with the biodiversity loss that that’s going to be required,” Wilson said.

“What people who are walking in the area or recreation in the area can do to support the longer rāhui is just stay on the tracks, not litter, and be generally respectful of the landscape.”

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ACC’s use of AI to help decide who gets help shocks advocate

Source: Radio New Zealand

There are about 25,000 long-term claimants that have been receiving compensation for a year or more, the most there had ever been.

A move by ACC to use artificial intelligence to help decide which long-term claimants should go back to work is being called “shocking”.

It comes as the state insurer is under instruction from its minister to reduce the long-term claims pool.

There are about 25,000 long-term claimants that have been receiving compensation for a year or more, the most there had ever been.

ACC earlier this year commissioned advice to work out how it could both remove existing clients, and prevent new ones from entering the pool.

In the year to June 2025 a record 8000 long-term claimants were taken off its books because they were deemed “work ready”.

ACC planned to ramp up exits even more, with a goal of 11,675 by next June.

By 2028 it hoped to have more people coming out of the long-term pool than going in.

“Nothing in ACC’s proposals actually looks at rehabilitation,” ACC advocate Warren Forster told Nine to Noon.

“It’s all about ‘how can we ramp up exits, how can we get more people coming off the scheme’, and that’s the antithesis of the statutory purpose. It’s the antithesis of why we have ACC in New Zealand.”

ACC said it was committed to helping injured people return to independence or to their new normal after life-changing injuries.

“It’s important that we manage the scheme sustainably so it’s there for Kiwis when they need it, now and in the future,” ACC deputy chief executive Michael Frampton said.

He said some long-term claimants would need financial support for a longer time because of life-changing injuries, but there were some whose injuries would not normally take a long time to recover from.

“That suggests they might not have had the right support and we’re actively working with them to help them back to independence,” Frampton said.

He said one step was to make sure all long-term claimants have one-to-one case management to make sure they were getting the right support. Frampton said this was already showing positive effects and giving better outcomes.

“ACC is using AI to help identify cases where the client may benefit from a further review by staff member to help ensure that they’re receiving the right support,” he said.

Warren Forster. RNZ / Ian Telfer

Frampton said it also meant providing “advice on next steps”.

Forster said 31,000 injured people had been pushed off ACC in the last five years.

“The AI will tell you ‘person X has a sprain, they’ve been off work for six years’ or whatever the case might be,” he said.

“The AI will say ‘well, this person’s got a sprain, we’ll get rid of them’ and that’s, you know, when you’re blindly following what a model does then you produce junk data”.

He said the person might have a disc prolapse or a tendon tear, may have been misdiagnosed or may be in mental health distress.

“Everyone knows the person doesn’t have a sprain injury,” Forster said.

“AI can tell you that this person has a problem, but AI is not going to tell you what that problem is. What we have is AI identifying someone who ACC can exit.”

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What the government’s firearms act reform proposals will change – and what they won’t

Source: Radio New Zealand

Explainer – How will firearms proposals change access to guns in New Zealand? Here’s what you need to know.

New Zealand is planning its biggest overhaul of gun regulations in more than 40 years.

The proposal announced last week would repeal and replace the 1983 Arms Act in legislation Associate Justice Minister (Firearms) Nicole McKee said would be “written in plain English, structured logically and with public safety at its core.”

Among the changes are a new firearms regulator removing police from oversight duties, tough restrictions for gang members and a host of new penalties and offences being introduced.

Here’s a round-up of the changes being proposed.

What changes are being made to gun laws?

A new specialist firearms regulatory agency will be created, replacing the current Firearms Safety Authority now operated by police. It’ll be headed by an independent chief executive appointed by the governor-general. That chief executive would report solely to the firearms minister, currently McKee. The new regulator will sit within police but without sworn police officers involved.

“There will be no blue shirts in the Firearms Safety Authority,” McKee said, referring to police uniforms.

A new Firearms Licensing Review Committee will also be created, which McKee called “essential for ensuring there is trust in the licencing system, improving compliance, and ensuring applicants or firearms owners renewing their licence are treated fairly.”

Being a gang member will now automatically disqualify anyone from holding a firearms licence.

A new ‘red flag’ system will be established to clarify information sharing so police and other agencies can review whether a legal firearms owner “remains a fit and proper person”.

There will be more flexibility around gun storage, which currently is allowed only at a firearms owner’s “primary place of residence”, but now will be allowed at any premises approved by the regulator.

There will also be multiple new penalties and new firearms offences introduced.

Police seized 35 firearms and 15,000 rounds of ammunition from a New Lynn property in Auckland last week.

Firearms seized in Auckland. Supplied / NZ Police

So what are the new firearms offences?

Penalties for more than 60 Arms Act offences will be increased, McKee said, and eight new offences will be created.

It would become an offence for failure to notify the regulator of a lost or stolen licence, unsafe storage of firearms, possession of firearms with intentionally removed serial numbers, possession of files or blueprints with the intent to unlawfully manufacture arms items, intentional diversion of firearms, manufacturing ammunition without a licence, not providing locations of a restricted firearm for pest controllers with multi-user agreements, or a business licence holder failing to provide information to the arms regulator about changes of staff.

The “files and blueprints” offence is aimed to plug a gap in the rise of 3D-printed “ghost guns” where people now have the ability to simply make their own weapons.

Armed police are seen at the top of Totara Road in Miramar, Wellington, after a person was found dead at a residential property on 16 October, 2023.

Police will no longer be part of the firearms regulatory agency. RNZ / Angus Dreaver

Why are these changes being made?

The Arms Act 1983 is more than 40 years old, and has been modified many times.

McKee has said it leaves “a complex, confusing and bureaucratic patchwork” and that the new law will make compliance easier for firearm owners “through sensible changes that reduce regulatory burdens.”

The new bill – which is still being drafted – will define gun laws in New Zealand.

Last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said, “We are going to rewrite the Arms Act because it’s an outdated piece of legislation, it’s an old piece of legislation.”

Luxon also said then there would be “no new guns added into New Zealand”.

Semi-automatic AR-15's on sale at a US store.

Many military-style firearms were restricted after the 2019 attack in Christchurch. AFP

Are semi-automatic weapons being brought back?

No.

After the 15 March 2019 terror attacks, a ban on semi-automatic weapons was introduced.

Regulations around those high-powered military-style firearms won’t be relaxed, despite fears that McKee would seek a change.

There are no changes to the limited number of people who can legally hold those guns – ‘endorsed’ pest controllers and collectors.

Collectors who own prohibited firearms will have the option of storing vital parts of a gun (that when removed, disables it) at the address of any licensed firearm owner, not just someone who has the same endorsement.

McKee’s ACT party, which also opposed the 2019 changes, invoked the “agree to disagree” clause in the coalition agreement with National and New Zealand First over ongoing restrictions on semi-automatic firearms.

McKee has also opposed the firearms registry implemented after the attacks, but it will remain. However, the reform proposal would tighten the amount of data allowed to be gathered for the register beyond what is explicitly required.

McKee said on social media that “ACT faced a choice on firearms: die in a ditch over the registry and semi autos and get no improvements at all – or take 95 percent of the win, fix a broken law, and lay the foundation for future change.”

Police Minster Mark Mitchell has told RNZ that National did not want to widen access to semi-automatic guns, even for competitive shooting.

“It is a public safety issue and we don’t see that there needs to be a wider or a broader availability around military-style semi-automatic weapons.”

Nicole Mckee

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Wasn’t Nicole McKee involved with the gun industry?

Yes. The firearms minister entered politics to advocate for firearms users and was a critic of the gun laws passed after the March 15 attacks.

“Five years ago, I put my hand up for Parliament because I was tired of seeing responsible, law-abiding New Zealanders treated as the problem,” McKee said in a statement on the ACT party website.

A New Zealand shooting champion, before politics she ran her own gun safety education business, was coordinator of the nation’s volunteer firearms safety instructors for the Mountain Safety Council and the spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners.

“ACT respects the vital role of licenced firearms owners, hunters, and shooting sports enthusiasts in New Zealand’s culture, economy, and conservation efforts,” McKee has said. “Hunting and shooting are legitimate pastimes, essential pest-control tools, and part of our rural way of life – and we’ll always back you.”

What do gun control advocates think?

Gun Control co-founder Philippa Yasbek earlier told RNZ that the effective ban on military-style semi-automatic firearms wasn’t being touched was a relief.

“McKee has built her entire political career on wanting to get rid of the registry and bring back semi-automatic firearms and she’s basically failed on both of those goals.

“So this is quite a big relief and I don’t think there’s any chance of her ever managing to change it again. Souffles don’t rise twice.”

What about gun users?

Council of Licenced Firearms Owners spokesperson Hugh Devereux-Mack said it was disappointing the effective ban on semi-automatics remained intact, though he backed the minister’s efforts.

“When it comes to semi-automatics, we can understand that there’s no need for the wider New Zealand firearms community to have those but some exceptions for competitive sport shooters or individuals who use firearms for pest control but are not professionals…would be very helpful.”

Fish & Game New Zealand called the changes “pragmatic and sensible.”

“We’re pleased to see the government taking a balanced approach to firearms regulation that recognises the long-standing traditions around hunting and food gathering that many New Zealanders undertake,” said Fish & Game Chief Executive Corina Jordan.

What’s next?

The draft bill could be introduced by year’s end. Once submitted, the bill will go through a six-month select committee process where the public will be allowed to have their say about the changes.

After that process and possible revisions it would be considered by Parliament.

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Comvita takeover bid fails

Source: Radio New Zealand

Comvita products on display. Supplied

The takeover bid for honey exporter Comvita has failed after not enough shareholders approved of the offer.

The company’s board had vigorously pushed shareholders to vote in favour of a $56 million deal with Florenz, owned by Canterbury businessman Mark Stewart.

However, the bid failed to meet key thresholds needed for the scheme to pass.

To be approved, the scheme needed to be approved by at least 75 percent of votes cast by shareholders in each interest class, and by more than 50 percent of the total votes.

In the first interest class, which included Florenz Associates, 100 percent of votes were in favour.

In the second interest class, excluding Florenz Associates, 54.29 percent voted in favour and 45.71 percent against.

In total, 54.34 percent voted in favour, and 45.66 against.

Comvita’s board said it was working with lenders and advisers to work out next steps, and “all available options” would be considered.

“The board has been working with its advisers and banking partners to evaluate a range of funding options as part of its contingency planning,” chair Bridget Coates said.

She said the board wanted to assess options to recapitalise the company.

“This work is progressing with urgency and discipline to secure a solution that stabilises the business, positions it to grow again, and reduces ongoing risk to shareholders.

“Our duty is to act in the best interests of all shareholders and to ensure the path forward is fair, transparent and well-considered.”

The bid had attracted criticism from some, including Comvita’s co-founder Alan Bougen, who pushed to veto the scheme.

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Woman charged with murder following death of man in Northland’s Kaitaia

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

A 57-year-old woman has been charged with murder following the death of a man in Kaitaia.

Emergency services were called to an Okahu Road address shortly after midday on Sunday following a report of assault.

The man was found critically injured but despite efforts by emergency services, he died at the scene.

Acting Detective Inspector Tania Jellyman said police arrested the woman at a different address on Sunday afternoon and later charged her with murder.

“Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter,” Jellyman said in a statement.

“A scene examination is continuing and a post mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days.

“Police will look to release more details about the man after these processes have been completed.”

The woman was expected to appear in Kaitaia District Court later today.

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Well-known Northland entrepreneur Monty Knight named as alleged murder victim

Source: Radio New Zealand

Monty Knight was a well-known wine-maker, entrepreneur and local politician in Kaitāia, inducted into the Northland Business Hall of Fame in 2010. RNZ/Carol Stiles

The man killed at his home near Kaitāia on Sunday was one of the Far North’s best-known businessmen as well as a former district councillor and mayoral candidate.

Police say they were called to a home on Okahu Road, west of Kaitāia, about 12.35pm following a report of an assault.

A man found in a critical condition at the scene could not be saved despite the efforts of emergency services.

Court documents reveal the victim was Monty Knight, a high-profile entrepreneur, wine-maker and local politician.

He turned 80 earlier this year.

Acting Detective Inspector Tania Jellyman, of the Northland CIB, said a woman was arrested a short time later at another Far North address.

Police were not looking for anyone else.

The property had been cordoned off and a scene examination was due to take place today.

A post mortem examination would be carried out in the coming days.

Court documents show a 57-year-old Far North woman is due in the Kaitāia District Court this afternoon facing a charge of murder by stabbing/cutting.

Former Far North mayor John Carter said he was shocked by Knight’s death.

“I knew him very well, as did most people in Kaitāia,” he said.

“He’s a very community-minded person who’s done a tremendous amount for the community. A very successful businessman of course, which has enabled him to do so. But he’s been very generous with his time and support.”

Knight was one of the Far North’s best-known entrepreneurs and personalities.

Born in 1945, he started his working life in signwriting and music promotion.

His first foray into retail was a small record shop, Monty’s Disc Inn, on Kaitāia’s Commerce Street.

That expanded into electronics, appliances and beds with Knight selling the business, by then a major store known as 100% Monty Knight, in 2012.

He also established a winery, Okahu Estate, which won medals in New Zealand and overseas.

He was best known, however, for Knights the Jewellers, which has outlets in Kaitāia and Kerikeri.

The Companies Office shows he was the sole shareholder and director of the Kaitāia store.

Knight was inducted into the Northland Business Hall of Fame in 2010.

He was elected to the Far North District Council in 2010 and to the Northland Regional Council in a by-election in 2015.

He also contested the Far North mayoralty a number of times.

Knight stood unsuccessfully in the Te Hiku Ward in last month’s Far North District Council elections.

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Two antibiotic-resistant superbugs found at Christchurch Hospital

Source: Radio New Zealand

Christchurch Hospital. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Health NZ has confirmed two separate outbreaks of superbugs at Christchurch Hospital.

Two different strains of antibiotic antibiotic-resistant enterococci have been identified on one ward.

Health NZ Canterbury and West Coast nursing director Dr Sarah Berger said there were “fewer than 10 patients” with the infection, which was more difficult to treat because it did not respond to many medicines and was resistant to vancomycin.

Vancomycin was an antibiotic used for potentially life-threatening infections which could not be treated with another effective, less toxic antimicrobial drug, including severe staphylococcus infections.

“Most” of the patients were carriers rather than having active infections, Berger said.

Deep ward cleans, use of personal protective equipment and other infection prevention measures were in place.

“Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) is a global problem, sometimes called the ‘silent pandemic’, and unfortunately has reached New Zealand’s shores.

“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to many medicines, making infections harder to treat. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become less effective and infections become increasingly difficult to treat.”

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‘Loss beyond measure’: Three children killed in Sanson house fire identified

Source: Radio New Zealand

August, Hugo, and Goldie died in a house fire in Sanson on Saturday. GIVEALITTLE / SUPPLIED

The three children killed in a Sanson house fire have been identified on a page set up by the loved ones of their mother.

The children have been named as August, Hugo and Goldie, aged 7, 5 and 1.

The Givealittle page has since raised more than $136,000 for their mother as she dealt with the “unimaginable loss”.

“They were the light and love of her life, and her entire world has been shattered,” the Givealittle page said.

“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security, while navigating the deepest emotional pain.”

The search for the body of one of the children is still ongoing, police said.

The bodies of two children were recovered on Sunday night and were blessed by the family with karakia.

The body of the adult was removed earlier. Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed to Morning Report it was the children’s father, which RNZ understood was Dean Field.

Outside the scene of a fatal house fire in Sanson, November 2025. Mark Papalii / RNZ

Police had put up emergency tape roping off the entrance to the property. Down the driveway was a police car, and a police branded truck was visible. A couple of flowers look to have been placed near the front of the driveway.

Police said their focus now would be on finding the third child’s body.

“It’s unimaginable, the tragedy for the families going through this,” Grantham told Morning Report. “We are working very carefully through the scene to establish how it started, and that’s still going to take us some time.”

He said it was too early to tell yet if the fire was deliberately started.

“It’s pretty risky with the part of the structure still there and the the dust that’s generated from the fire, so it will take us some time just to go through and establish what’s happened.”

Grantham said police were not seeking information from the public at this stage, but if anyone knew anything, they could “reach out”.

He said it was “unusual” for a house fire to begin in the afternoon.

Outside the scene of a fatal house fire in Sanson, November 2025. Mark Papalii / RNZ

Neighbour describes seeing the fire as it happened

A neighbour told RNZ he was working at his home on Saturday, when someone noticed smoke from the nearby property.

“We all came out to have a look and we saw a horrific amount of smoke coming from about 300 metres away, where the neighbour’s house is – pretty thick black billowing smoke.

“It was a very, very windy day and we knew it wasn’t any kind of controlled fire. We knew it was some sort of what we considered to be a house fire at that stage.”

He said, over an hour, many firefighters turned up, attempting to put the blaze out.

An hour after it started, the blaze and billowing smoke was still visible. He believed it took two hours for firefighters to put the fire out.

“They were still dousing it down and there was just very slight wisps of smoke coming from the property two hours after it started.”

He said State Highway One near the property did not open until 8pm Saturday.

The neighbour said that, during the fire, he was “pretty shocked” at what was happening before his eyes.

“Nothing we could do about it and just a feeling of kind of despair, I guess just watching what was going on.

“Knowing that a young family was potentially losing everything they owned and knowing that is going to be a very, very hard place to come back from.

“Just the thought of not knowing whether everybody was alright or not, and subsequent to that we found out, that isn’t the case, which has made things 10 times worse.”

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the fire.

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