Police and the Fire Service are maintaining a media silence over what caused a firebomb at Auckland gay venue Flesh, which almost destroyed the club just before New Year's. Calls to investigating officers at both the Fire Service and Police by GayNZ.com over a period of several days this week were not returned. Flesh manager Nicholas believes the fire was a hate-motivated attack, but says neither he nor Flesh's insurance company have heard any news from the Police either, who at last report were waiting for the results of an official Fire Service inquiry into the suspicious blaze. Nicholas says the extent of the damage is even more severe than was originally thought, and has caused their planned re-opening at the end of January to be delayed further. “I would say, to be realistic, it's going to be at least another four weeks,” he told GayNZ.com. “The wiring is only just being done. We've got some power back to the first floor, but not everything's been installed, then we've got the relining of the building, the doors...we're just still cleaning soot, it's in everything. Everything electrical had to be professionally cleaned, a lot of property was destroyed.” Flesh is currently operating temporarily at weekends from the upstairs bar at Surgery, located opposite Denny's Restaurant in Hobson St. The bar is open on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 13th January 2005 - 12:00pm