Lobby For Good Calls For Urgent Reform Following Mount Maunganui Slip: “Put People First”

Wednesday, 28 January 2026, 10:47 am
Press Release: Lobby for Good

27 January 2026

TAURANGA, New Zealand: Community advocacy group Lobby for Good is calling on local authorities across New Zealand to prioritise public safety, transparency and to show real accountability after the fatal landslide at Mount Maunganui exposed serious shortcomings in hazard management.

Known risks, ignored warnings

A July 2025 study commissioned by Tauranga City Council used detailed terrain mapping to identify high-risk slopes on Mauao and “clearly flagged the danger across Mount Maunganui”. The hazard boundary, however, stopped just short of the Beachside Holiday Park because there were no permanent properties there. Landslides on that slope had been recorded as far back as 1943.

Residents reported multiple small slips and contacted emergency services hours before the fatal collapse. A camper called 111 at 5.48 a.m., and Fire and Emergency NZ referred the warning to the council, yet no evacuation order was issued. By mid-morning, a massive slip destroyed cabins and caravans, killing six people.

“These facts show that the tragedy was not an unavoidable act of nature,” said Erika Harvey, spokesperson for Lobby for Good. “It was the result of decisions about land use, hazard mapping and emergency management. Tourists were effectively invisible on the hazard map because they weren’t ratepayers.”

Growing frustration with “cover your tracks” politics

Many survivors have expressed anger that no one warned them to leave. One camper said she was “angry… because there are people that are not going to come out alive… Where were the campground staff? Where were the council?”.

“There is a sense that officials close ranks and blame mid-level staff to avoid accountability,” said Harvey. “People are tired of the ‘us vs. them’ mentality that pits communities against their own councils. We need elected members who read the reports they commission, ask hard questions and listen to residents.”

Lobby for Good’s call to action

Lobby for Good urges Tauranga City Council and all local governments to:

1. Read and act on hazard reports. Councillors should sign off on mitigation plans and insist that risk boundaries include transient populations, not just ratepayers.
2. Listen to communities. Establish clear channels for residents to report hazards and ensure those warnings trigger swift action.
3. Ensure independent oversight. Include victim families and independent experts in any investigation to build public trust.
4. Work collaboratively. Engage with community organisations, iwi and non-profit groups. Political point-scoring must give way to genuine partnership.

Standing with the families

Lobby for Good extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who were lost in the Mount Maunganui slip. We also acknowledge the trauma experienced by survivors and the wider community. Our call for accountability and reform is through our respect for you: we believe that no family should endure such pain. We will continue to advocate for ongoing support, transparent inquiries and long-term well-being assistance to honour your loved ones and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“Our mission at Lobby for Good is to make sure communities have a voice,” Harvey added. “We are non-partisan and independent. When we bring issues to elected members, we do so based on evidence and lived experience. We believe councils should welcome questions, not see them as attacks. Together we can build a system that puts people’s safety first.”

About Lobby for Good

Lobby for Good is a civic agency helping people navigate public systems and advocate for transparent, accountable governance. We work with community groups and individuals to bring attention to issues that matter and to ensure public decision-making puts people before politics.

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