A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in Mount Maunganui on New Zealand’s North Island after a devastating landslide struck a popular campground, leaving six people missing, including two teenagers — the youngest just 15 years old. Police say they are also seeking information on three additional individuals, believed to be international tourists who may have already left the area but need to be accounted for as part of the investigation.
The landslide followed days of torrential rain across the North Island, triggering widespread flooding and unstable ground conditions. A second landslide in nearby Welcome Bay killed a grandmother and her grandchild, one of whom was a Chinese national, according to police.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who visited the disaster-hit areas on Friday, praised the outpouring of community support despite the heartbreak. He said it was inspiring” to see neighbours, volunteers and even friends-of-friends helping clear debris and assist affected residents. Still, he warned of ongoing challenges, including blocked access roads, continued risks of slips and fresh flooding.
The country’s meteorological service has forecast thunderstorms and strong winds this weekend in both Gisborne — where communities remain cut off by floods — and Tauranga, where the deadly landslides occurred. Rescue crews, supported by specialist teams and sniffer dogs, continue to comb through flattened tents, crushed caravans and debris at the Mount Maunganui campsite. So far, no signs of life have been detected beneath the rubble, but police say they are working 24/7 and leaving no stone unturned.
A tourist staying at the campsite told TVNZ that he leapt out of a swimming pool after seeing the enormous wall of earth and debris racing downhill. The site, a sacred Māori area popular with both locals and international visitors, has experienced several landslides in recent years.
At Welcome Bay, police recovered two bodies from a home destroyed by the slide, while another person was seriously injured. China’s ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, expressed condolences to affected families, saying: Our hearts are with the impacted families at this difficult moment.
Meanwhile, in another weather-related incident, the search has resumed for a man swept away in the Mahurangi River north of Auckland. His wife told RNZ that their family still hopes he survived, emphasizing his experience as a strong swimmer and former fisherman from Kiribati.
Emergency crews across the region remain on high alert as unstable weather and saturated ground continue to pose significant risks.
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