Fire Safety
The long game of investigating Loafers Lodge disaster
Years before the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 residents, it was foreshadowed by another fatal fire in London which wasn't adequately investigated. A journalist who has worked on that story for six… Audio
Loafers Lodge and the lessons for higher density housing
In the push to get more people living in higher density housing, have our fire and building regulations been left behind? Audio
Rural firefighter Myles Taylor
Today for our series on lifesavers we're talking to Myles Taylor from Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Myles is the principal rural fire officer in Northland - where a total fire ban was put in place… Audio
Govt asks furniture industry to make products safer
The government wants furniture manufacturers and retailers to make their products safer and more fire-resistant but hasn't committed to regulating the industry. Video, Audio
NZ fire officials using scare tactics - engineer
A leading fire engineer is accusing public officials of using the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy to scare New Zealanders.
Fast-tracking new fire rules will cost building industry 'hugely'
The fast-tracking of new fire safety rules is expected to add costs and delays to major building projects. Audio
Furniture rules could halve death rate - firefighters
House fire deaths could be halved by limiting the use of flammable material in furniture such as sofas, firefighters say. Audio
Cut-rate refrigerator imports defy safety standards - manufacturer
The country's leading commercial refrigeration company says the government does not care that cut-rate importers are making a mockery of the law.
NZ multistoreys' fire protection 'faulted for years'
Fire protection specialists and an Auckland builder have seen many examples of substandard fire protection in New Zealand buildings, they say.
Substandard fire protection a major issue for buildings
Fire protection specialist Ron Green says so far we've been fortunate we haven't had a disaster, but there's a widespread issue of non-compliance. Audio
Fire protection failures surprise migrant engineer
Fire safety experts say only good luck has prevented a major tragedy in high-rise buildings. Alan Page is a passive fire engineer who moved to Christchurch from Britain 18 months ago, and he spoke to… Audio
'It can be the difference between life and death': Familes fear for deaf children without special smoke alarms
Families with deaf children say they fear lives are being put at risk because they cannot get funding to pay for special smoke alarms.
Expert warns of NZ's 'wild west' fire design
It would be foolish to assume buildings here are safe as so little is known about how high-rises react to severe fire, a top engineer is warning.
Residents urged to check apartment cladding for fire risk
An Auckland litigation lawyer is recommending clients take a sample of any aluminium composite cladding on their apartments to test whether it is combustible. Audio
Concerns raised over NZ fire regulations
Plans for what will be the country's tallest apartment tower are stuck in a dispute over whether a single stairwell for its top 11 floors is good enough in an evacuation.
Fire-fighting gear found to be faulty
The Fire Service has been forced to recall helmets, chemical splash suits and high pressure hoses because of faults and complaints from firefighters.
Fire risk still high despite cooler weather
People shouldn't become complacent about the risk of bush fires, with a warning now is the "danger time".
Mangawhai says no to face of fire safety
Almost half the population of a Northland town has signed a petition asking the Fire Service to remove a well-known firefighter from the town's Volunteer Fire Brigade. Audio
Fire Service backs Housing New Zealand's removal of fire escape
The Fire Service has backed Housing New Zealand's decision not to reinstall a fire escape ladder at a Dunedin home, despite protest from its tenant. Housing New Zealand says the ladder was a safety… Audio
NZ importer investigating flammable cladding
A company importing aluminium cladding of the type blamed for a catastrophic blaze in Melbourne is investigating whether it may have been used incorrectly in buildings here. Audio