Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, alongside Police, is continuing the search for persons unaccounted for at the Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay landslips.

Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says we were alerted to the landslide at Welcome Bay at 4.50am this morning and to the landslide impacting a campground in Mount Maunganui at 9.31am.

"USAR teams provide specialist search, rescue, and technical assessment capability. USAR is trained to operate in unstable ground, structural collapse and complex rescue environments. Expert operators from Fire and Emergency and Police have narrowed down the area of operation," Megan Stiffler says.

USAR is currently carefully removing layers of debris and heavy machinery is on site to assist.

"This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe. The teams will be operating overnight until the search is complete.

"Our highest priority is in the Bay of Plenty operations. I’d like to acknowledge the families impacted by what’s happened. All our thoughts are with them tonight."

From 1am Tuesday to 4pm today Fire and Emergency crews have responded to 305 weather related callouts from Northland to the Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti.

"We are demobilising our specialist water rescue teams from across the North Island where they were pre-positioned to support isolated communities ahead of the forecast severe weather.

"We ask people to avoid the Mount to allow emergency services to have the space to work safely," Megan Stiffler says.

There is still a high risk from further landslides in the weather affected areas. If you or anybody else is in a life-threatening situation, please call 111.

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