Mount Maunganui: Emergency crews in New Zealand are racing against time to locate several missing people after a powerful landslide tore through a coastal holiday park in the Bay of Plenty region on Thursday. The incident occurred at a campground near the base of Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist destination, following intense and prolonged rainfall.
Authorities confirmed that adults and children are among those unaccounted for after the slope collapse struck the Beachside Holiday Park during the morning hours. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that family members of the missing were present at the site as rescue operations continued.
Search and rescue teams from Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the landslide struck at around 9:30 a.m. local time, sweeping away campervans, vehicles, tents, hot pools and parts of the park’s facilities, including a shower block. Commander William Pike said rescuers initially heard sounds from beneath the debris, but no further signs of life had been detected as efforts progressed. As of the latest update, no survivors had been confirmed.
The area was evacuated immediately after the incident, and emergency personnel are methodically searching the debris to ensure no one remains trapped. The landslide followed extreme weather conditions, with Tauranga recording its highest rainfall in a single day. Around 270 millimetres of rain fell within 24 hours, overwhelming the region’s infrastructure.
Severe weather has affected large parts of the North Island, triggering flooding, power outages for thousands of residents, and isolating several communities, particularly along the east coast and in Northland.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents to remain vigilant and follow official advisories as dangerous conditions persist. In a public message, he said the government is mobilising resources to assist those impacted by the storms and flooding.
Local leaders echoed concerns over public safety. Mayor Mahe Drysdale described the landslide as deeply distressing, emphasizing that the immediate focus remains on rescue efforts and supporting affected families.
New Zealand has faced a week of destructive weather, with the Mount Maunganui area experiencing an extraordinary volume of rain — equivalent to more than two months’ rainfall in just half a day — underscoring the severity of the conditions that led to Thursday’s disaster.
