Five people died in the fire at the multi-storey budget accommodation on Adelaide Road in Wellington in May 2023. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Precious possessions belonging to former residents of Wellington's Loafers Lodge have been recovered and returned to their owners.
The devastating fire in the suburb of Newtown in May 2023 killed five people and left many homeless.
With the help of Community Law, some tenants were granted an order by the courts to protect their belongings inside the damaged building.
Recovery professionals have spent the last year removing as many salvageable items as possible.
Community Law senior lawyer Oscar Upperton said irreplaceable family photos and memorabilia have been given back to the tenants.
"We have recovered a number of really personal and valuable belongings from the building... It's great to see tenants reunited with their possessions."
Water and fire damage, as well as asbestos contamination, has meant some things were unable to be safely recovered.
Upperton said the building owners had agreed to store items that had not yet been collected for a reasonable period to allow people to get them back.
Tenants would be notified when this period was about to end, he said.
The parties are still working through minor legal issues relating to the recovery process but it is expected they will be settled soon.