PM Christopher Luxon, who visited the site of the rescue effort at Mount Maunganui, called the events an "absolute tragedy". Photo / Corey Fleming
Rescuers have been working round the clock to recover people missing in the Mauao landslide, the youngest of whom is a 15-year-old.
At a 2pm stand-up in front of the Mount Maunganui Surf Lifesaving Club, Bay of Plenty District Commander and Superintendent Tim Anderson told media six people were unaccounted for.
There was also a list of three campers who had not checked out but may have already left the area.
“It’s unlikely that those other three are within the environs of our scene that we’re working with, but we would like the public’s information on that.”
Anderson confirmed the youngest unaccounted-for person was 15.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the big landslide at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park an “absolute tragedy” and said he had met with many of the family members of the missing.
He said it was an “immense privilege” to meet with family members waiting to hear news.
“They are grieving incredibly hard, and I know that New Zealand grieves with them.
“There is massive hope, there is concern ... every individual is handling it in a different way.
“All we can do is make sure that we’re offering the very best support to those families, and I feel very confident that we are.”
Fire and Emergency Assistant National Commissioner David Guard would not confirm whether anyone had been recovered from the rubble.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale was asked why campers were not evacuated earlier and said authorities would go through a public “proper process” once recovery operations were complete.
“There are a lot of questions to be answered, and we are determined to answer those questions,” he said.
The stand-up came after more than 28 hours of recovery efforts.
Multiple slips had occurred around Mauao before the one at the campground at 9.30am on Thursday, including a small slip near the campsite at 5am, which led to several campers moving but did not trigger an evacuation.
A holidaymaker on Pilot Bay’s boardwalk said he remembered a “loud crunching, thumping noise” that caught his attention as the large slip hit at 9.30am, then he looked up and could see the top of the scar in the hill.
When he reached the edge of the hot pools, he could see people on top of the slip, “frantically” pulling at the roof and debris.
He also said it had felt unsettling to be out having dinner in the busy Mount township on Thursday night, with people wining and dining as usual, while just down the road the rescue efforts were underway.
Drysdale said Thursday had been “a pretty emotional day” trying to support the families of the missing.
“You can imagine how tough a time that is when you’re not sure of what is happening and where your loved ones are ... But we’re doing what we can.”
The community had been “amazing” in supporting the families of the missing and the rescue teams on the ground, Drysdale said.
Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Josh Pennefather said search crews at the campground worked through the night in rotating shifts. Excavators had been working into the early hours of the morning under spotlights.
Rescue workers “moved a lot of dirt” overnight on Thursday but had not found anyone, Drysdale told Newstalk ZB.
A specialist search team with dogs was brought in, but had to pull back during the night for their own safety because they could hear trees cracking around the slip.
Traffic controller Wiremu Wiringi said multiple members of the public had tried to enter the scene overnight, and traffic controllers had found it difficult to keep the crowd out.
“Our instructions are to not let anyone through, and to stop them from taking photos out of respect for what has happened.”
People had been trying to volunteer, but “as much as people want to help, they need specialists”, Wiringi said.
But people from the community had also provided food and care to staff.
“People have been caring and generous.”
Sunrise on Friday brought with it a solemn atmosphere.
Families of the missing had gathered for a karakia in the morning, Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell said, and both he and Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford had been contacted with offers of support from the community.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said crews were working as hard and fast as they could in a difficult and challenging environment.
First responders would be working non-stop “until they’ve recovered and got everyone out of there”, he said, refraining from giving a specific timeline.
“It’s very tough ... Obviously, a very sombre mood. As I was leaving [on Thursday], I was talking to one of the police officers that just broke down in tears,” Mitchell said.
“Everyone is trying to wrap as much support around the families as we can and try and shoulder as much as we can with them, because you can imagine, when you’ve got loved ones trapped in a landslide, the waiting is torturous.”
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it could take days for families to get answers, given the complexities at the scene.
Rescuers had to clear a “massive” amount of debris, and there was a risk of further movement of the slip, which could slow efforts to find the missing.
He said disaster identification staff, along with dog teams and family liaison officers, were among police teams at the scene.
Guard, the regional response co-ordinator, said progress has been slow but consistent as teams carefully removed layers of debris.
“We ask people to avoid the Mount to allow emergency services to have the space to work safely. There’s still a high risk from further landslides in the weather-affected areas.”
Shortly before 10am, a hearse entered the cordon.
Campervans and caravans were removed from the scene on tow trucks throughout the day, many with obvious damage.
Luxon arrived in Tauranga at midday after spending part of the morning in the Coromandel, and met with many relatives of people missing in the landslide.
Kaumatua and iwi representative Kehukehu Butler said he would support closing Mount Maunganui for six months to a year, considering the circumstances, and to allow time for geologists to ensure it was safe for visitors.
St Peter’s Anglican Church in Mount Maunganui opened its doors at 2pm for people to stop by, “share a prayer, light a candle or have some reflection time, or have a sit down with a cup of tea”, parishioner Karen Mosen said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) warned that the dangers posed by landslides and flooding were not over.
Nema director of civil defence emergency management John Price said the heavy rain from the past few days would continue to have effects for some days to come, including widespread flooding damage, road closures, and the high risk of further landslides.
“We have seen the tragic consequences of landslides at Welcome Bay and with the ongoing search at Mount Maunganui Hot Pools and Camping Ground. Our thoughts and aroha are with the families who have lost loved ones and those with family members unaccounted for.”
Price said it was important to take care around and stay well away from existing landslide sites and in places where a landslide might happen.
“I urge everyone to stay away from existing landslides until they have been properly inspected and authorities give the all-clear. More landslides can happen in the same place.”
MetService forecast mainly fine weather for the long weekend in Tauranga, with showers expected on each of the three days, and possible thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon.