A family whose two-storey rented home in Remuera, Auckland was gutted by fire in the early hours of 30 October has set up a Givealittle page, seeking assistance from the community as they try to rebuild their lives. The page notes the family does not have contents insurance to claim their losses.
The family of three — Sanjay, his wife, and their seven-year-old son — lived upstairs, sharing the property with two other occupants on
the ground floor. According to Sanjay, the other two flatmates are doing well, having secured accommodation with friends.
As per the latest update, Sanjay’s son’s school administration has arranged a ten-day stay for the family in Parnell. “I am very thankful to the school management for arranging the accommodation for us,” he said. However, he remains uncertain about what will happen once the ten-day period ends. “If anyone knows of any rental property in Parnell, Remuera, or Newmarket, please let us know. Because of my child’s school, I want to stay close to this area,” he added.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) told RNZ that it received multiple calls shortly after 1am on Thursday, reporting the blaze on Hapua Street.
Recalling the night of the fire, Sanjay said, “Had we been two minutes late, we wouldn’t have survived.”
The fire destroyed the home where the family had lived for three and a half years. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. the cause of the fire remained unknown as of Friday afternoon.
Police confirmed all occupants were safely evacuated and treated for minor injuries.
“Police will be working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators to understand the circumstances surrounding the fire to determine next steps,” a spokesperson told The Indian Weekender on Thursday. They have also assured the family of support with food and essentials such as clothing.
When The Indian Weekender visited the site on Thursday morning, the house was still smouldering. Charred frames, blackened walls, and extensive structural damage bore witness to the fire’s intensity. The residents stood outside, speaking to neighbours, while firefighters conducted multiple rounds of inspection.
The Indian-origin family, hailing from Rajasthan, remained in shock as they sought assistance to renew passports and replace other important documents lost in the blaze.
Sanjay expressed gratitude for the support they have received so far. “I would like to thank the community for their support. As a migrant in a foreign land, they have helped us immensely and never made us feel like outsiders,” he said.
Sanjay also appealed to the wider community for help in finding longer-term rental accommodation. He expressed gratitude to the landlord and neighbours who have stood by him and are assisting in finding a suitable place as the family works to settle down.
The family lost all their belongings, including passports, cash, documents, and gold jewellery. Sanjay described the ordeal as devastating, saying, “Our passports were burned and we have nothing left. Sab kuch hote hue bhi main zero ho gaya hoon (despite having everything, I have been reduced to nothing).”
He is appealing to the Indian community and local authorities for support as he works to rebuild his life. Those wishing to assist can also contact him at veerwalsanjay@yahoo.com.
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