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Child dead, six injured including four children in Christchurch house fire

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 15 May 2026, 8:58am
A child is dead, and six others are injured after a house fire at Mairehau, Christchurch, last night. Photo / Mike Thorpe
A child is dead, and six others are injured after a house fire at Mairehau, Christchurch, last night. Photo / Mike Thorpe

Child dead, six injured including four children in Christchurch house fire

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 15 May 2026, 8:58am

A child has died and six people have been injured after a large fire in Christchurch last night. 

Police said four of the injured are children and two are adults. 

The child died at the scene at a property on Whitehall St, Mairehau. 

Police are yet to determine the cause of the fire but said it’s not believed to be suspicious. 

Detective Senior Sergeant Jo Carolan said six people have received injuries, including one in a critical condition. 

“One person received critical injuries, three were in a serious to moderate condition, and two received minor injuries. 

“The injured are two adults and four children and were all transported to hospital.” 

A child is dead, and six others are injured after a house fire at Mairehau, Christchurch, last night. Photo / Mike ThorpeA child is dead, and six others are injured after a house fire at Mairehau, Christchurch, last night. Photo / Mike Thorpe 

A scene examination will be carried out today. 

Emergency crews were called to the scene about 8.25pm after reports of a house fire and people unaccounted for. 

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said four crews responded to the blaze. 

One person has died after a house fire in Mairehau in Christchurch. Photo / SuppliedOne person has died after a house fire in Mairehau in Christchurch. Photo / Supplied 

The fire is under control, a spokesperson said. 

This morning, Whitehall St remains cordoned off. 

Police officers are at the Hills Rd and Westminster St ends, blocking access to the street. 

Police cars and a police white trailer remain, but no other emergency services are at the scene. 

The fire attracted a large crowd of people last night. 

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers was also spotted behind the cordon. 

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said four ambulances, two rapid response units and an operations manager went to the scene. 

Cordons are in place around Whitehall St and the public is urged to avoid the area while the scene is investigated. 

More to come ... 

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