A view that the man accused of lighting the Loafers Lodge fire might have trouble with his insanity defence

The 50 year old's facing five murder charges and two arson charges which he's pleaded not guilty to.

The Herald's Melissa Nightingale says a psychiatrist told the High Court in Wellington, the man had strong voices in his head which urged him to light the fire.

She says the psychiatrist pointed out signs that the man may have been aware, that what he was doing was wrong.

Nightingale says the man told the psychiatrist that he shouldn't have done it, because people might die.