Several people, including children, are thought to be unaccounted for after a huge landslide destroyed parts of the iconic Mount Maunganui campground.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will miss the annual Rātana celebrations tomorrow and instead travel to the East Coast, which has been hit hard by the week’s wild weather.
It’s understood meetings were held by the Prime Minister’s staff earlier today when the decision was made to skip the event,which is widely regarded to be one of the first political events of the year. National Ministers Nicola Willis and Tama Potaka will attend the event.
The Prime Minister’s office said Luxon had spoken to church leaders to let them know of his plans to visit the affected East Coast communities.
“They conveyed that they send their aroha to the whanau and those affected,” a spokesperson said.
Extreme weather has caused destruction across much of the upper North Island, including massive landslides and severe flooding.
States of Emergency remain in place for the Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hauraki, Coromandel and Northland.
In the East Coast, reports have emerged of a family rescued from their roof in Te Araroa while roads in the area are impassable due to downed trees and debris.
A slip has hit the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.
Two people are also missing after a slip hit a house nearby Pāpāmoa and, north of Auckland, a man in his 40s went missing while trying to cross the Mahurangi River.
Rātana, an annual event marking the birthday of the spiritual movement’s founder, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, is widely considered the start of the political year.
Political leaders typically attend the event alongside leaders of Māoridom.
The Māori queen, Te Arikinui Ngā wai hono i te po, is expected to attend the event on Friday, flanked by other members of the Kiingitanga.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi is also no longer attending Rātana, opting to stay in his electorate of Waiariki due to the bad weather.
In an Instagram post, Waititi said he felt it was important to stay to support local community members.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by the weather events across Aotearoa and throughout Waiariki overnight.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
