A man killed when he apparently went to investigate a fire on a south Auckland property was the husband of a District Court judge.
The New Zealand Herald reported today that Ian David Walker, 61, an economic consultant and husband of Judge Jane Lovell-Smith, was the victim in the blaze on the couple's Karaka property on Tuesday.
Police said formal identification was yet to take place.
The blaze appeared to have started in a barn as a result of an electrical fault in a light fitting.
Firefighters battled exploding gas cylinders and a lack of water to fight the massive fire, which started just before 4pm, and later discovered the body inside.
"It would appear that the deceased has gone to the building, probably as a result of noticing the fire," a police spokesman said.
There were no suspicious circumstances and the death would be referred to the coroner.
Mr Walker ran an economic consulting firm from home but was often overseas doing work for the Asian Development Bank, the Herald said.
He had two daughters, both lawyers.
