Ison da Silveira must wait for approval to enter his home of five years, despite the caravan being several meters from the backpackers which caught ablaze on 7 April, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Dunn
Just a fence separates the two meters between Ison da Silveira and all of his belongings sitting in his caravan, and home, of five years.
While being so close to all he has, he must live on nothing but the clothes on his back and the few possessions he had with him when he escaped the blaze which ripped through an Auckland backpackers on 7 April.
Following a scene examination of the City Garden Lodge fire, police were still yet to say what they thought the cause was, or if the fire was being treated as suspicious.
Da Silveira had stayed at City Garden Lodge for the last half-decade in a caravan shifted to the side of the main building while he worked as a labourer in Auckland.
But when the devastating fire took hold, he was in the main building.
"I was in the lounge listening to some music and then I heard 'fire,' and then I came out here," he said.
"That's it. I couldn't do anything. The fire was all over the place. I couldn't get my caravan, just get out of the premises and that's it."
Ison da Silveira's caravan home of five years contained all his belongings, including the clothes he used for work. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Dunn
When da Silveira revisited the property, his caravan had been moved to the front lawn, right up against a fence stopping anyone from entering.
When he approached the people working on-site on Thursday in hopes of reclaiming his things so close to him, he was turned away.
He was told work was being done to improve the structural integrity, and guests were not allowed anywhere on the premises, including the front lawn, to collect belongings.
"I think it's not dangerous because it is outside here and all fencing around ... but [the worker] said you'll have to wait until next week when it's safe," da Silveira said.
From what he could see, the caravan was largely untouched by the fire and safe to enter.
Until he could return to grab his things, da Silveira has only one set of clothes - including those he uses for work.
"Everything in the caravan, my boards and my bike, clothes, boots, working clothes - everything," he said, "waiting to get back to work. We have some time off."
It is believed all 10 evacuees of the City Garden Lodge fire were put into emergency housing at Parnell Pines Hotel. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Dunn
He is now situated at Parnell Pines Hotel, where he and the other nine were taken to by Auckland Emergency Management in the aftermath of the fire.
He has been told his stay has been extended at the accommodation for 15 days but could be pushed back to a month.
When it came to the fire itself, da Silveira had only heard what others were saying.
"Some people say it was a sabotage but I don't know."
Workers on the site of the burnt City Garden Lodge in Parnell told RNZ an operation was underway to improve the structural integrity of the building before it was safe for anybody to enter. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Dunn
Police said the investigation was still coming up short.
"While the cause is yet to be determined, police would still like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident unfold or have information to assist our enquiries," a spokesperson said.
Police were called to Parnell Pines Hotel in the early hours on Wednesday and the evening, but said the incidents were related to family harm and a group fight - not the fire.
One 17-year-old was arrested and charged with four counts of assaulting police, escaping police custody and disorderly behaviour on Wednesday night.
A manager at the Parnell Pines Hotel told RNZ it was the same person causing problems during both incidents.
