Police investigate suspicious fire at former Hokitika hospital complex

Wednesday 13 August 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Wed 13 Aug 2025, 12:04pm

Police are treating a large fire at the former Seaview hospital near Hokitika as arson. Emergency services responded to the blaze on Sunday morning, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are seeking to identify a person seen walking across the grounds around 3.20am before the fire started.

How they headlined it

10:57am12:04pm

1. 1NewsWed 13 Aug 2025, 10:57am

   Fire at former West Coast asylum treated as arson, person sought (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesWed 13 Aug 2025, 10:58am

   Person in old hospital grounds before blaze: police (opens in new tab)

3. The PressWed 13 Aug 2025, 10:59am

   Police seek person seen before Hokitika blaze (opens in new tab)

4. NZ HeraldWed 13 Aug 2025, 11:06am

   Person seen at Seaview Hospital hours before it caught fire, police seek information from public (opens in new tab)

5. RNZWed 13 Aug 2025, 12:04pm

   Search for person on grounds during 'arson' at abandoned hospital (opens in new tab)