Dion Bennett, Acting Wellington District Commander:

"A scene guard will remain in place at the building overnight, and for the duration of the scene examination.

"Adelaide Road remains closed to traffic between John Street and the Basin Reserve.

"We do not anticipate providing any further updates this evening but will work to provide further information tomorrow."

Dion Bennett, Acting Wellington District Commander:

There were "less than 20" people still unaccounted for," Dion Bennett said.

92 people have been accounted for.

He said bodies were still inside the building.

"Part of the reason for recognisance this afternoon is whether or not we can recognise the number of deceased in there. The recognisance is still underway."

"I can say a call was made to Fenz, I don't know the details of that," he said in regard to whether an alarm went off.

He said he was sure it was safe to work in and around the building, in regard to asbestos.

Dion Bennett, Acting Wellington District Commander:

"Earlier this afternoon, the scene at Loafers Lodge has been passed to police," Dion Bennett said.

"A recognisance group has entered the lodge."

He said the scene examination could take several days and that the fire was being treated as arson.

"A number of officers spent the day at Newtown Park speaking to residents that did evacuate," Dion Bennett said.

He said some residents didn't go to Newtown Park, but police wanted to speak to them and anyone else who had information.

Scene guards will remain at Loafers Lodge tonight, and while remain there while the investigation is completed.

Police are investigating claims about a couch fire.

Regarding whether petrol was part of the cause of the fire, he said "I don't know for sure."

Police have a list of people they wanted to speak to.

"It's an arson inquiry, so yes, we will identify a number of suspects," Dion Bennett said.

Police confirmed it’s a homicide investigation

Nobody has been arrested.

Loafers Lodge Limited director Gregory Mein spoke outside the scene this afternoon and acknowledged the sad loss of life.

The situation was a tragedy, he said.

“Everyone is just gutted by this, it’s just done us in completely.”

He said he has been supporting management who have been assisting the police and the fire service with their investigations.

The building was issued with a Building Warrant of Fitness earlier this year and has a monthly inspection where the services are checked, he said.

Loafers Lodge Limited is the company which owns the building.

Tory Whanau:

“I have asked our council officers to kick off a wider piece of work to not only scope how wide this problem might be.

“So that if there are any other buildings of a similar nature, but of course, the process in which they receive, their warrant of fitness.”

She said she was “really pleased” with how the Ministry for Social Devlopment had helped house people evacuated from the fire in the short term.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said a review of building regulations for higher density accommodation like hostels would be a likely outcome following the fatal Newtown fire at Loafers Lodge.

He told reporters he had asked Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods to look at "issues around building regulation" to see whether there was anything the Government should be doing currently.

Hipkins didn't elaborate on how a review might take place, saying it would need to follow the various ongoing investigations like the one conducted by police, who now had control of the site.

"What comes out of their work, of course, will inform decisions about what a future review might look like."

Police have confirmed that the fire is being treated as suspicious – and that a separate fire broke out earlier, but emergency services were not called.

Inspector Dion Bennett, Acting Wellington District Commander said the scene has now formally been handed over to police and that they will continue to work closely with FENZ.

“As part of our enquiries, we will be seeking to confirm any link between that couch fire and the subsequent fatal fire."

Inspector Dion Bennett, Acting Wellington District Commander:

"While we will continue to work closely with FENZ and other partners, Police are now the lead agency in relation to the fire investigation, and we can confirm that we are treating the fire as suspicious.

"Following a health and safety assessment, officers hope to enter the building this afternoon to begin a scene examination.

"This scene examination will be an extensive and methodical process, and we expect it to take some time – likely several days.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins sent his thoughts to Hockings' family, saying he understood that Hockings was missing.

Hipkins said he hadn't seen Hockings in recent years but had run into him in "various events around the place".

Hipkins described Hockings as a "bit of a character" and a "very sincere person".

Labour MP Barbara Edmonds has confirmed FENZ has handed site over to police.

She spoke to reporters in the press gallery about the concern of Fire and Emergency crews only having access to one 32 metre ladder.

“I am trying to get reassurance the plan to fix some of them, because one of them is operational, is underway.”

She said it was not just a case of buying a new one, as the equipment needed to be made overseas.