Lauren Crimp

Land and affordability are two major issues facing the community-living project in the capital. Audio

The capital city has been shrouded in grey clouds lately, but pops of colour at the Botanic Gardens are putting a spring in locals' step this season.

Esarona Lologa has been convicted of five counts of murder and one of arson.

A sense of relief and justice was underscored by incredible heartache, as families of the Loafers Lodge fire victims "got justice".

We piece together Esarona David Lologa's background after his five-week trial.

The 50-year-old, who can now be named as Esarona David Lologa, set the Wellington boarding house alight.

Another juror has been discharged this morning due to illness.

The jury deciding the fate of the man who lit the fatal Loafers Lodge blaze has been deliberating for eight hours so far.

Lawyers have delivered their final arguments, and the jury will being deliberations on Wednesday morning.

There is no dispute the accused lit the fire, but his lawyers say he is not guilty by reason of insanity.

Dr Oliver Hansby initially said the accused had an insanity defence available to him, but the psychiatrist said access to further evidence saw him change that opinion.

Psychiatrist Dr Jeremy Skipworth, told the court the accused had threatened to kill him during proceedings today.

The man's lawyer says he was insane at the time of the fatal fire, but the Crown says he knew lighting the fire was morally wrong and could kill people

He has previously been jailed for hitting someone on the head with a weapon and fracturing their skull, the High Court has heard.

A psychiatrist has told a High Court jury the man accused of lighting the fatal Loafers Lodge fire was insane at the time and had no intention of hurting anyone.

Protestors have begun a tit for tat with Wellington City Council, removing fencing that blocks off the City to Sea bridge, which is planned for demolition.

Police say they're determined to find those who helped the fugitive dad, but residents say it's unlikely anyone will turn themselves, or anyone, else in. Audio

The call comes after a serious assault involving youth, a stabbing and the gang conflict warrant issued across Hawke's Bay.

The lawyer for the man accused of lighting the Loafers Lodge fire says he had not taken his schizophrenia medication for a month.

He told a forensic psychiatrist voices in his head told him to burn the place down, a court has heard.

The man had been admitted to mental health facilities eight times between 2001 and when the fire was lit.

A church pastor says the Loafers Lodge murder-accused told him he had to run for his life as the Wellington boarding hostel went up in flames.

The Loafers Lodge murder-accused sounded "different" when he talked to his cousin on the phone the day after the fire, the court has heard.

The man's lawyer referred to the serious mental illness while he cross-examined Ministry of Social Development staff.

A 50-year-old man has denied killing five people by setting the boarding house alight.