Firefighters assess the roof of Loafers Lodge on a skylift. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Final checks are being done by firefighters on a skylift as police prepare to take over as lead agency into the investigation of a fatal fire at a Wellington hostel that has left at least six people dead.
Urban Search and Rescue was also finishing its final stability and safety checks of the heavily damaged Loafers Lodge.
It means emergency service personnel can soon re-enter the building and look for evidence as to what caused the fire in the early hours of Tuesday - and potentially find more bodies.
On Wednesday, firefighters remained on site with hoses and a number of police officers were patrolling the cordon around Adelaide Road which remains closed from where it meets John Street and then continues down to the Basin Reserve.
Traffic is able to access Wellington Hospital via Riddiford Street.
Loafers Lodge remains cordoned off and a part of Adelaide Road is closed. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Urban Search and Rescue teams carried out the safety checks this morning in preparation for the handover.
Police say they hope to enter the building later today to carry out an "extensive and methodical" scene examination.
They say fatality numbers will not be confirmed until that examination is complete.
Fire investigators speak to firefighters outside the building on Wednesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
In a statement, acting Wellington District Commander Inspector Dion Bennett said he was grateful to FENZ for its work to ensure police could access the building safely so quickly after the "significant" fire.
"We know this is an incredibly difficult time for those waiting for information regarding family members and friends who may have been staying at Loafers Lodge at the time of the fire," Bennett said.
"I want to reassure everyone impacted by the fire that we will work as quickly as we can to provide the answers you need.
"We have a large number of staff dedicated to this operation, with specialist staff being brought into Wellington from around the country to assist."
Bennett said staff were also making a number of other inquiries, including getting hold of and looking at CCTV footage from around the area.
Urban Search and Rescue have made sure the building is stable for investigations to continue inside today. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"Work is also ongoing to determine who was in the building at the time of the fire and who remains unaccounted for or uncontactable."
Meanwhile, Corrections said it has made contact with all nine people on a community sentence or order that it knew lived at the lodge.
Lower north deputy regional commissioner Brittany McNamara said their thoughts remain with everyone affected by the tragic event.
Firefighters remain at the scene. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"We have accounted for all nine people on a community sentence or order who we know were living at this address.
"Of these people, two are subject to extended supervision orders with electronic monitoring and one person is subject to an intensive supervision order.
"The other six people are either subject to community work, release conditions, or supervision.
"Staff have worked with partner agencies to move people to suitable alternative accommodation."
McNamara said none of them were subject to a returning offenders order.
A director of the company that owns the hostel, Greg Mein, declined to be interviewed.
He said police and FENZ had control of the building, and until they have finished the inquiry he would rather not comment further.
Mein said he was concentrating on supporting the hostel's management.