Death-house arsonists still on loose

Police are still searching for the people behind a second suspected arson attack on the house where Northland teenager Mairina Dunn was found bashed to death.

Firefighters were called to the Whangarei house on Tuesday afternoon, the second time in five days.

Whangarei police Detective Constable Pepe Reihana said police were still searching for the occupants of a car seen leaving the Holmes Ave, Otangarei address around 4.30pm.

The white Mitsubishi Lancer saloon was recovered in a nearby street that night.

"We're still seeking information from members of the public who may have seen anything or seen anyone acting suspiciously," Mr Reihana said.

The blaze apparently started in the bathroom. The rest of the house sustained smoke damage.

Northland Fire Brigade iwi liaison officer Willie More believed a tapu on the house had been lifted by a local kaumatua, but the property was a reminder of Mairina's death.

"I think that is why they are constantly trying to torch the place," he said.

"The necessary steps have been taken by the kaumatua in relation to that property but the house does have an owner - it's something that will need to be addressed."

Mairina's mother, Queenie Dunn, said she felt for the owner of the house and said her family was not involved.

She had heard a petition was circulating to have the house demolished.

"There's other people out there feeling something too," she said.

The owner of the property could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

A 19-year-old woman was arrested near the house on Tuesday night and charged with obstructing officers dealing with the fire.

In last Friday's fire, investigators found an accelerant had been used in at least 10 different places around the house.

Reremoana Luana Cooper, 33, of Whangarei, was charged with arson and has been remanded on bail until October 2.

The fires follow the death of 17-year-old Mairina Dunn, found beaten to death in the house on August 27.

Police have charged 31-year-old Nathan Charles Fenton with her murder. Eileen Verna Everitt, 28, is accused of helping him avoid arrest.

Both appeared in the Whangarei District Court today were remanded in custody to reappear on October 30.

Otangarei kaumatua Jim Wells said that, by Maori custom, the house in which Mairina Dunn died should be demolished.

But he wished there was a way for the Fire Service to demolish it, rather than for people to "sneak around" trying to set it alight.

Mr Wells had heard people talking about starting a petition requesting the house be destroyed, and would support such a move. If a new house was built on the site, kaumatua would be able to bless the home and people could move in knowing the tapu had been lifted.

It is not known whether the house is insured.

New Zealand Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan said he did not know about the Holmes Ave house but, in his opinion, no insurance company would agree to demolish such a house.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE, NZPA