Whangarei, Aug 19

A well-known Northland kaumatua's refusal to have smoke alarms installed in his home where he lived alone could have ultimately led to his death, an inquest has revealed.

The inquest inquiring into the death of 81-year-old Ivan Erstich revealed that repeated attempts to have alarms fitted in his rural Far North home by family, firefighters and the Te Kotahitanga Fire safety group -- which installs smoke alarms free -- were all declined.

A pot on the stove ignited at the old home, 5km northeast of Kaitaia, about 2am on October 23 last year.

It took volunteer firefighters just 10 minutes to get to the house, but it was too late.

Coroner Brandt Shortland found that Mr Erstich, a former Maori warden, died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.

During the inquest, fire investigator Craig Bain clutched the charred cooking pot and held it up to family members, saying: 'This was our killer. That's what did it,' Mr Bain said.

'He forgot the pot was on. We've all done that but in his case it was fatal.'

Mr Erstich's body was found near the back door and the pot was found beneath charred rubble nearby.

'He tried to remove the pot but was overcome by the smoke.'

Mr Bain said that, despite repeated attempts to install smoke alarms, Mr Erstich had refused.

He said it was likely Mr Erstich would have easily been able to control the fire had he been alerted to the smoke earlier.