Woman pleads guilty over fatal house fire

A woman today pleaded guilty to three charges arising from a house fire that claimed the lives of a man and two children at Patutahi near Gisborne before Christmas.

Louana Merry Lydia Ngarepene Patuwai, 24, a solo parent of Patutahi, admitted failing to provide the necessaries for three children.

Patuwai, who was supported by family members in Papakura District Court in south Auckland, was remanded on bail for sentence on April 16.

The fire on December 20 claimed the lives of Harry Grant, 33, Kihini Patuwai, 6, and Watene Grant, 3.

A third child, Patuwai's four-year-old son Eru Patuwai, was flown to Middlemore Hospital with serious burns. The boy has since been discharged from hospital.

- NZPA