Man sentenced to life for Loafers Lodge murders

Friday 19 December 2025 · 6 outlets · 7 reports · updated Fri 19 Dec 2025, 2:26pm

In this story High Court

Esarona David Lologa has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the May 2023 Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington. The 50-year-old was found guilty of five counts of murder and one count of arson. He must serve at least 22 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

How they headlined it

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1. The PostFri 19 Dec 2025, 4:00am

   Loafers Lodge arsonist due to be sentenced for five murders (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 19 Dec 2025, 5:00am

   Loafers Lodge murders: Esarona Lologa to be sentenced for killing 5 people in fire (opens in new tab)

3. RNZFri 19 Dec 2025, 5:00am

   Man convicted of starting Loafers Lodge fire to be sentenced (opens in new tab)

   • Loafers Lodge fire: Esarona David Lologa handed life sentence for murder of five people (opens in new tab) Fri 19 Dec 2025, 1:05pm
4. StuffFri 19 Dec 2025, 12:56pm

   Man who lit a fire that killed five people in Loafers Lodge will spend at least 22 years in prison (opens in new tab)

5. 1NewsFri 19 Dec 2025, 12:59pm

   Loafers Lodge: Murderer to spend at least 22 years behind bars (opens in new tab)

6. Otago Daily TimesFri 19 Dec 2025, 2:26pm

   Life sentence for deadly Loafers Lodge blaze (opens in new tab)