‘We’re hurting for them’ – Mount Maunganui locals mourn at vigil

By Lauren Crimp of RNZ

As the sun set on Sunday evening, Mount Maunganui residents came together to mourn.

A crowd of about 200 sat on a bank at Blake Park, looking down the fields and beyond at Mauao, a place dear to their hearts – but a place now home to tragedy, after a slip crashed down onto a campground, leaving six people missing and unlikely to be found alive.

The maunga sat in a backdrop of cloud, tinged with orange light, as a tough week drew to a close.

People wanted to show those whose loved ones were missing that Mount Maunganui felt and shared their grief.

Organiser Rachel Bailie had a message for them: “You’re one of us ... your loved ones will always be treasured by us.”

She said the event was impromptu, put together for people who hadn’t had a chance to share their sorrow.

Organiser Rachel Bailie said the event was for those who hadn't shared their sorrow. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

“Our maunga is so precious to us, and we’re just really sad that somewhere that’s such a place of happy times and summer memories is going to carry a lot of heavy stuff for those families now.”

There were no scripted speeches or any formalities. Some people chatted, others stayed silent.

Kaia Cassidy, age 8, attending the vigil. Photo / Dean Purcell

Six people remain missing after the slip that tore through the seaside campground. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

Friends Susanna Chow and Kaille Harris said it was about being with their community.

“It hits so differently when it’s on your doorstep, you can feel it, the air is so heavy,” Chow said.

“We don’t have words to express how we’re feeling. We came down and we dropped some flowers at the cordon, and then we’ve just come here to be with everyone,” Harris said.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sits with (from left) Andrea Hall, her daughter Charles Hall, age 10, and Eileen Tamasese during the sunset vigil at Blake Park. Photo / Dean Purcell

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it felt right making a last minute decision to drive down from Auckland to join those gathered at the vigil in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

Ezra McDonald has lived in Mount Maunganui for more than three decades, and showed up to offer his support for those affected.

“We’re all hurting for them,” he said.

Klaire Oakes said she came along “just to be”.

“It’s been a really strange atmosphere, lately, just really heavy, and I know people directly affected in the Welcome Bay landslide,” she said.

“Plus I have friends in the police who have done some remarkable things in the last few days, so just really wanting to show aroha for those who we’re still waiting to recover, and their families, and just show them support from around here.”

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale attends the vigil at Blake Park. Photo / Dean Purcell

A heavy week ends with a quiet Mauao vigil for landslide victims and their whānau. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

Those families were in the community’s thoughts, hearts and prayers, she said.

“And that will go on for a long time.”

‘Senseless tragedy’ – PM

The Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, and Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell made a surprise appearance.

“We heard about the event and actually we just jumped in the car and came down from Auckland because we just wanted to be with some people given the events for the last few days,” Luxon said.

“People in this community, they feel very, very attached about [Mount] Maunganui, and it’s a place of wellbeing and it’s a place where people process a lot of stuff and they have a lot of emotion around that ... so it was really special to see people in the community just coming out tonight and wanting to be together.”

Those he spoke to were still in shock, he said.

“There’s a solemnness, there’s a sadness, there’s a heaviness that’s here in the community.

“People are wanting to find a way through that.”

Luxon described the landslip as a “senseless tragedy”.

Mitchell said it had been a special evening.

“Regardless of what role we have or what we’re doing, we all come together as Kiwis ... being with one another was cathartic,” he said.

“That’s what it’s about, it’s actually really important.”

Flowers, notes and signs left near the site of the landslide-struck campground. Photo / RNZ, Nick Monro

Cabinet to consider government support

Mitchell said he and the Prime Minister had now visited all the areas across the North Island that had been affected by flooding and slips.

“It’s important to get on the ground and let those communities know that we care about them and that they’re on front of mind,” he said.

“And the second reason is to ... assess and see what we need to do as Government in terms of getting that recovery moving quickly.”

Mitchell said he would take an oral item to Cabinet on Tuesday.

“It’s complicated and it’s a big geographical area ... every area has got its own challenges and a different set of circumstances that we need to deal with.”