Tragic House Fire in Manapouri Claims Lives of Mother and Son

• A mother and her 11-year-old son died in a house fire in Manapouri.
• Emergency services arrived early Thursday morning to find the house ablaze.
• Investigators continue examining the scene to determine the fire’s cause.

Police have confirmed that an 11-year-old boy and his mother died in a house fire in Manapouri on Thursday. Emergency services were called to the property around 3.40 am and were informed that there might still be people inside.

Since then, a thorough investigation has been ongoing to account for the occupants of the address. “At this time, we are satisfied nobody else was home,” said Detective Sergeant Mark McCloy. A third person who lived at the address was at work when the fire started.

Investigators are continuing to process the scene to determine the cause of the fire. “A crane was used to remove the remaining sections of the roof to allow specialist investigators from Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand to enter the home,” McCloy added. Due to the significant damage, this work is taking time, and the scene examination is expected to continue through the weekend.

“Importantly, our hearts go out to the family,” McCloy expressed. “Events like this are tragic, and we are ensuring there is appropriate support in place for those affected by this terrible event.