An estimated 1000 people gathered at Coronation Park in Tauranga this evening to remember the victims of the region’s deadly landslides, one week on from the disaster.
A grandmother and grandson were killed in a Pāpāmoa landslide, and six died after another slip struck a holiday park in Mount Maunganui.
The search continues for four unaccounted-for victims at the base of Mauao, with two formally identified so far.
At the vigil, Tauranga local Sandy Scarrow told the Herald it felt like a pall of sadness had been over the community for some time.
“Sad for Mauao and sad for those people who have lost their lives. It’s just so, so very tragic.”
Scarrow said she usually walks up the mountain every Thursday morning.
“I would have been walking up it, and I would have been almost on the path where that slide went down at 9.30am last Thursday,” she told the Herald.
“I’m there a lot, and I love it. It’s really important to us.”
Among the mourners were family members of the deceased, accompanied into the park by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The ceremony at Coronation Park began at 7pm with a mihi, followed by waiata performances by students of Te Wharekura o Mauao School Group.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale told the crowd of mourners: “One week ago, tragedy struck our city and changed our lives forever”.
“We stand here in solidarity with the families who devastatingly lost their loved ones.
“We feel your grief deeply and hold you in our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers.”
Drysdale thanked the community for coming together to support workers and families.
“I can tell you, everyone down at that cordon can feel the support, love and feeling from you all,” he said.
Luxon described the victims as “people just like us”.
“Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters,” he said.
And he thanked the crowd for showing that in New Zealand, “we face hard moments together and stand with each other in difficult times”.
“I want to say to the families, although it doesn’t ease your pain, your grief or suffering, New Zealand is with you. We grieve with you, and everyone of us stands with you.”
Earlier today, 100 people gathered for a vigil at Pilot Bay.
Kaye Mullins told the Herald she wanted to support the locals and honour those who lost their lives by going to the vigil.
She said, walking around this week, she’s noticed people greeting each other more than usual.
“Psychologically, what has happened to us all, there’s been a shift.”
Tauranga MP Sam Uffindel described the week as “incredibly difficult”.
“You can never imagine how hard it must be for the family members who have had probably the worst week of their lives and yeah, I just hope that we can get those missing people back to them as soon as possible,” he told the crowd.
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