Police say an investigation found the blaze was deliberately lit. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
Police investigating an arson attack in Hutt Valley, which left an elderly man with critical injuries, are seeking a barefoot man seen riding a bicycle near the property at the time.
Emergency services were called to a block of flats on Hanson Grove, Stokes Valley at 3.10am on Tuesday.
An investigation found the blaze was deliberate and most likely linked to two other suspicious fires at the same property on 10 and 14 October.
The victim's neice, Denise Harrison, told RNZ the family would prefer him not to be named at this stage, and said the family was horrified by the events.
"You're an 81-year-old man, you're in your house and you're sleeping, and all of a sudden your house is on fire, and you're not the type of person that has probably warranted or attracted that kind of awful thing," she said.
"It's horrendous."
Detective Inspector Haley Ryan said police needed the community's help to identify the barefoot man, who was seen in the vicinity around the time of the most recent fire.
"Someone in the Stokes Valley community will know who this male is, we believe he will be a local resident.
"We need the community's help to identify and locate him, or for him to voluntarily come forward and speak with us.
"This male may be a potential witness and could have seen something or hold information that could assist us identify the person or persons responsible."
Police also wanted to hear from any residents with CCTV footage, or from any motorists with a dashcam who were travelling though the area during the early hours of Tuesday, she said.
"The victim of the fire is a well-regarded gentleman of the Stokes Valley community; he has lived there for many years and he and his family deserve answers. We hope the community can help them with that."
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