Tauranga City Council acknowledges today’s tragic news that six people remain unaccounted for at the Mount Beachside Holiday Park, with Police saying it’s highly unlikely anyone will be found alive.

Police today confirmed that the rescue operation for those unaccounted for following the Mauao landslide on Thursday is now moving into a recovery phase, and human remains have been recovered from the site.

Police continue to search for the remaining bodies and have said it could take multiple days to complete the recovery and even longer to undertake the formal identification process.

Two people have also lost their lives after a slip in Welcome Bay Road, Pāpāmoa, badly damaged a house on Thursday.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale says “our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in these tragic events, this is devasting news".

“Right now, our focus is on supporting those families, and the emergency workers and support agencies who continue the recovery process,” he says.

“We are also supporting our staff who are working around the clock to manage our emergency response.”

The council has announced there will be an independent review into the factors leading up to the landslide.

“We need the facts, and the community and the families need answers. This will be a thorough review, and we will be taking the time we need to get it right,” says Mahé.

The mayor has requested flags around the city to be flown at half mast, out of respect for all those impacted and affected by this tragedy.

He Maimai Aroha – Community Care Centre will be set up from tomorrow in Mount Maunganui for people to come and pay their respects to those who lost their lives.

The name, He Maimai Aroha, has been gifted by Te Pou Ahurea Josh Te Kani.

The centre will be in the former Bay City Cinemas theatre at 249 Maunganui Road and will be open from 9am-9pm from Sunday, 25 January until further notice.

People will be able to leave messages of support for those affected and seek comfort from each other. We ask that people don’t bring donations of money, food or household goods. Anyone who is wanting to donate can contact Acorn Foundation NZ at https://www.acornfoundation.org.nz/

Somekeyupdatesforourcommunity:

• AllMauaotracks, MountBeachsideHoliday Park,Mount HotPoolsand Mount Druryremain closeduntilfurther notice,and we ask the public topleasestayaway and adhere to the cordons in place.
• People are advised to stay out of the water within the Tauranga Harbour area through to Pilot Bay due to overflows of the city’s wastewater and stormwater network.Until further notice,people should avoid swimming, wading, fishing, and collecting shellfish, as contact with contaminated water may pose a health risk. All stormwater should also be treated as contaminated during this time. Updates will be provided when available.
• MountBeachside Holiday Parkstaff are working hard to contact guests who haveexistingbookings.This will take some time.Weask for your patience.Please do not call us with booking questions as we need to keep our phone lines free for urgent communications.
• The Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service is stilloperatingandhasbeen temporarilyrelocatedto the central toilet block area on the Mount Maunganui main beach.
• Camping at McLaren Falls Park is closed and will remain closed for the long weekend.A large portionof the park is also closed while crews complete risk assessments and remove fallen trees. An update will be provided once assessmentshavebeencompleted across the site.
• OmanawaFalls is closed until further notice for crews to remove a fallen tree from site.
• Walkway closures – Waikareao Estuary (Daisy Hardwick), Johnson Reserve and Gordon Carmichael Graham Place track.
• SH2 Takitimu southbound lanes, between Eleventh Avenue and Fifteenth Avenue, are currently closed as crews work to clear trees and make the road safe. It is expected this work will be completed on Saturday evening. We recommend checking NZTA Journey Planner or Facebook
• It’s important that people follow all guidance from FENZ, Police,and other agencies involved in theemergencyresponse. It’s especially important that people keep their distance from the scene as this could interfere with recovery efforts. Restrictions also remain in place due to ongoing instability, and the public is reminded to follow all safety advice while the area continues to be assessed.

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