Hotel evacuated and roads closed in central Dunedin after suspected gas leak
Monday 21 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Emergency services responded to a suspected gas leak at the Scenic Hotel Dunedin City on Princes Street around 3pm on Monday. A faulty transformer was identified as the cause, leading to hotel evacuations and road closures near the intersection of Princes and Dowling streets.
Key facts
3 facts
- Location: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City, Princes Street, Dunedin
- Cause: A faulty transformer producing gas in the hotel basement
- Response: 22 firefighters and multiple emergency services attended
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
A hotel in central Dunedin was evacuated and several roads were closed on Monday afternoon following a suspected gas leak. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) responded to the Scenic Hotel Dunedin City on Princes Street at approximately 3pm. The suspected leak originated from a transformer in the hotel's basement.
Blair Walklin, a FENZ southern shift manager, said, “We are investigating a transformer which is putting off a toxic gas into the basement”. The gas was contained within the basement of the hotel. By 4.30pm, 22 firefighters were working at the scene alongside police and the power authority.
No injuries were reported during the incident. Hato Hone St John was notified of the incident on Princes Street but was not required to respond. Road closures remained in place on Princes Street and Dowling Street, with police advising motorists to avoid the area.
FENZ crews from St Kilda, Lookout Point, Roslyn, Dunedin, and Willowbank attended the scene.
Where reports differ
- One report describes the gas as being produced by a faulty transformer, while another describes it as a toxic gas.
Compiled from reports by 1News and The Press.