The chief coroner says identifying victims will be complex and time-consuming. Video / Alyse Wright, Jason Dorday, Annabell Reid
A teenage pair enjoying a summer holiday together with family were among the victims of the Mount Maunganui slip.
Pakūranga College students Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse-Kee were confirmed on Saturday as victims of Thursday’s fatal disaster.
Posts on Max’s social media show the two 15-year-olds enjoying pizza dinnersout together in Auckland and spending time at the beach in sunny weather.
In recent months, they had dressed up in his-and-hers costumes, posting pictures of their adventures out shopping and of the matching silver bracelets they wore.
In one photo, the name “Sharon” can be seen on the skin of Max’s sunburned back.
Their final photo together was posted three days ago.
Victims Max Furse-Kee and Sharon Maccanico appeared together frequently on social media. Photo / Max Furse-Kee
The teenagers were holidaying with family in the Bay of Plenty at the time of the mid-morning slip on Thursday, ahead of the new school year beginning next week.
Max was a keen sportsman, winning a junior player of the year award for basketball last year.
His mother Hannah Furse wrote a tribute to her son on Facebook, which the Herald published with her permission, urging other parents to “hug your babies, life can change in a moment”.
Max Furse-Kee and Sharon Maccanico posted pictures of their lives and adventures on Instagram. Photo / Max Furse-Kee
“Devastatingly, my Max was one of the people trapped in the Mount Maunganui slip on Thursday morning.
“While he is still missing and we have no definite answers we know that when we do there will be no good news.”
Originally from the Southern Italian town of Picarelli, Sharon was a talented dancer, taking home first place in the 11-12-year-old category of the 2023 national Hip Hop Unite Championships, and appearing in dance clips online as far back as 2020.
Pakūranga College released a statement about the tragedy on Saturday, sharing their “heartfelt sympathy and aroha” for both student’s families.
“Many members of the college have been deeply impacted by the news and we are working to support students and staff in the coming days and weeks.
“The wellbeing of our college community is paramount as the school year starts next week under incredibly sad circumstances.”
Max Furse-Kee is one of the six victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide. His mother paid tribute to him with a heartfelt post on Facebook. "Hug your babies, life can change in a moment," she said. Photo / Hannah Furse
Others listed by police as missing in the tragedy include Rotorua friends Sue Knowles and Jacqualine Wheeler, Morrinsville woman Lisa Maclennan, and Swedish tourist Måns Bernhardsson.
The search moved yesterday from a rescue to a recovery operation.
