WorkSafe New Zealand has now officially begun an investigation into work health and safety at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in the lead up to the landslide on January 22.

It follows completion of the recovery operation by Police on 1 February.

“We have taken time to be clear about what sits within our remit. Our investigation will focus on workrelated matters prior to the landslide,” says WorkSafe’s central regional manager, Nigel Formosa.

WorkSafe will establish whether there has been a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 by businesses and organisations related to the operation of the holiday park. This will include engaging technical experts and gathering information from a range of sources.

“Our team is focused on understanding the decisions and circumstances that shaped the work environment at the holiday park before the landslide. We’re committed to carrying out a careful, methodical investigation that stays grounded in evidence and the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, for the victims and their whānau. This will take time, but it's important we complete a thorough investigation,” says Nigel Formosa.

WorkSafe has already started to engage with Tauranga City Council as the operator of the holiday park. The roles of other parties will also be considered in the coming months.

This health and safety investigation is independent from both the Government inquiry and Tauranga City Council’s external review which have recently been initiated.

WorkSafe investigations can take up to 12 months from the date of an incident. Given the amount of information and technical expertise involved, we expect this investigation to take a full year.

WorkSafe would like to thank New Zealand Police for their ongoing support. We’ll continue to work closely with them as we carry out our respective roles.

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