Mount Maunganui landslide: rescue crews race against time amid torrential floods

Rescue teams are working through the night after deadly landslides struck a popular campground in Mount Maunganui and nearby Papamoa, leaving several people missing and at least one seriously injured.

Authorities say there are currently no signs of life at the Mount Maunganui campsite, and Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell confirmed that at least one young girl is among those unaccounted for. Dogs and heavy machinery are being used to comb through debris in a high-risk operation.

Another landslide in Papamoa has left one person critically injured, with two others still missing. The Bay of Plenty region, along with other parts of New Zealand’s North Island, has been battered by days of heavy rain and strong winds, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and road closures.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon announced he will visit the affected areas tomorrow, skipping the annual Rātana celebrations, which draw thousands of visitors and mark the unofficial start of the political year. Luxon emphasised that the government is doing “everything we can” to support the impacted communities.

Local authorities have warned residents to avoid floodwaters, which may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and farm runoff, and advised against non-essential travel as crews continue clearing roads and restoring services.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the landslide struck. One tourist said he had to jump out of a hot pool to escape, while another rushed to help trapped campers but was forced to stop after police deemed the site too dangerous. Aerial images show caravans overturned, tents flattened, and debris scattered across the campground.

The extreme weather comes as New Zealand still recovers from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Officials say the heavy rainfall in Mount Maunganui was equivalent to more than two months of precipitation in just 12 hours, overwhelming local infrastructure and emergency response teams.

States of emergency have been declared in several North Island regions, including Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and Tairāwhiti. Thousands of residents remain without power, while emergency services continue to rescue stranded people and assess the damage.

Minister Mitchell described the destruction along the East Coast as “like a warzone,” noting the psychological and physical toll on communities already struggling to rebuild.