Police say a blaze that caused extensive damage to a large public housing development under construction in east Auckland is being treated as suspicious.
Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) was alerted to the fire at the Kainga Ora complex in Guys Road, Huntington Park, at about 5.30am on July 24.
Multiple fire trucks, including from the Howick fire station, were still present at the scene at about 10am.
Water from a fire hose atop a crane was being used to dampen the interior of the building, the steel frame of which was exposed.
Part of Guys Road was blocked to traffic as firefighters removed bent and burned steel from inside the building’s ground floor. A fire investigator was at the site also.
A member of the public at the scene said he didn’t see the blaze when he drove past the area at about 5am, but when he returned shortly after 6am the building was alight.
The man said he saw a police car nearby.
On the day of the fire police said there were no reports of injuries and enquiries into the circumstances of the fire are continuing.
The following day, on July 25, a police spokesperson told the Times officers are working to investigate the circumstances around a fire at the Guys Road construction site.
“The fire was initially reported to police after 5.30am on Monday.
“We can confirm the fire is being treated as suspicious and extensive damage has occurred at the site.
“An initial scene examination has been conducted and further enquiries remain ongoing.”
John Tubberty, Kainga Ora regional director for central and east Auckland, previously said the 48-home development in Guys Road is being built in stages by developer Gemscott.
It’s due for completion in mid-2024.
“The block where the fire occurred was reasonably well advanced,” Tubberty said.
“Fire and Emergency NZ is responsible for investigating the cause of the fire.
“Once FENZ has completed its investigations, we will work with Gemscott to understand what impact the fire will have on timeframes for the final completion of this development.”
The Times reported in May that 640 people had signed a petition calling for a halt to a plan to build dozens of new public housing places in Huntington Park.
Officials from Kainga Ora fronted a heated public meeting held earlier this year in Botany to discuss the agency’s development in the community.
A person who attended the meeting said irate residents shouted at the officials, who threatened to leave if people didn’t calm down.
The Huntington Park Residents and Ratepayers Association was planning to write to Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, the Howick ward’s two councillors, and Howick Local Board about the group’s opposition to the project.
It was considering taking legal action to try to stop the development also.
The group was disappointed in what it says was a lack of consultation with residents about the development and other potential issues relating to vehicle parking and housing density.
Police want to hear from anyone with information that may assist their investigation.
People can phone police on 105 quoting the file number 230724/0959.
Alternatively, phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.
