The Loafers Lodge building was set for demolition before a court ruling on Friday. Photo: RNZ / Hamish Cardwell
Former Loafers Lodge residents in Wellington are a step closer to getting their belongings out of the fire ravaged building.
The survivors of last month's fire that killed five people had previously been told the building would be demolished and their belongings dumped due to a risk of contamination.
However, lawyers have filed an interim injunction to stop the demolition.
Oscar Upperton, from Community Law, said court orders granted this afternoon will allow tenants to do their own inspection to determine if their belongings could be returned.
"In the meantime the owner can't do anything inside the building unless strictly necessary to prevent further deterioration that would cause an imminent health and safety risk."
The owner would also have to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to tenants' belongings and will have to provide daily updates.
Upperton said there were several risks with the building including structural issues and asbestos, however, the problem was they did not know with any certainty.
"So it could be that we find there are enough issues to mean the belongings can't be recovered or can't be recovered safely. At the moment we just can't answer the question."
Name suppression continues
The man charged with five counts of murder and arson in relation to the Loafer's Lodge fire has been given continued name suppression by the High Court in Wellington today - but did not appear himself.
A small number of friends and family of the victims and at least one former resident were in the public gallery.
The 48-year-old, who is in Rimutaka Prison, has been charged with setting fire to a couch on the third floor of the Newtown hostel, shortly before a second blaze, which destroyed the building on 16 May.
Justice Christine Grice set a callover date for 18 August, pending several reports.
A five-week trial is set down for August next year.
