Search Continues for Missing After Landslide Hits Popular New Zealand Campsite
Emergency services in New Zealand are engaged in a desperate search for several missing individuals, including at least one child, following a catastrophic landslide that ripped through a popular holiday campsite at the base of Mount Maunganui. The disaster struck on Thursday morning amid days of relentless, record-breaking rainfall that has caused widespread flooding across the North Island.
Scene of Destruction and Desperate Rescue Efforts
The landslide, which occurred at a campground near Tauranga, caused immense devastation, overturning campervans, crushing tents, and damaging a toilet and shower block. Initial reports from rescue teams indicated they heard voices calling for help from beneath the rubble shortly after their arrival. However, by late afternoon, no further signs of life had been detected, raising grave concerns for those trapped.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand commander William Pike confirmed the harrowing situation, stating that first responders were forced to withdraw from the immediate area due to the ongoing instability of the hillside and the risk of further movement. "Initially, when the first arriving crews arrived, there were some signs of life," he told local media. "But we withdrew our people to make sure the slip didn't move any further."
Approximately 40 firefighters, including specialised urban search and rescue teams with sniffer dogs, are working at the fully evacuated site. Two excavators have been deployed to assist in the painstaking process of removing debris. Police have indicated that the number of people unaccounted for is believed to be in "single figures," though the exact count remains unclear as some campers may have left without notifying authorities.
Unprecedented Rainfall Creates 'War Zone' Conditions
The landslide is a direct consequence of an extraordinary tropical weather system that has deluged large parts of New Zealand's North Island. The Bay of Plenty region, where Mount Maunganui is located, experienced its wettest day on record. The nearby city of Tauranga received a staggering 295mm of rain in just over 30 hours—equivalent to roughly two and a half months' worth of average rainfall.
New Zealand’s Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell, described parts of the east coast as resembling "a war zone." Helicopters have been deployed to rescue families trapped on rooftops, and local states of emergency have been declared across several regions, including Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Tairāwhiti, Hauraki, and parts of the Bay of Plenty.
"It’s a fluid and sensitive issue at the moment," Mr Mitchell told Radio New Zealand. "Everyone is working as hard as they can to get the best possible resolution possible, but it is a very difficult and challenging situation."
Widespread Impact and Dramatic Rescues
The crisis extends far beyond the campsite. Fire and Emergency New Zealand reported responding to more than 230 weather-related callouts since Tuesday, involving rescues from rooftops and flooded homes. In the east coast settlement of Punaruku, firefighters encountered houses buried in mud, logging debris, and floodwater.
Infrastructure has been severely compromised, with at least 8,000 households still without power on Thursday—down from 16,000 earlier—and dozens of roads closed due to flooding and landslides. In a separate incident near Warkworth, police are searching for a 47-year-old man swept away with his vehicle while attempting to cross a river. His wife expressed hope for his survival, noting his strong personality and experience as a fisherman.
Further south in Papamoa, a separate landslide struck a home early on Thursday, leaving two people missing and one seriously injured. Communities across the island have reported dramatic rescues, including neighbours pulling a 94-year-old man from floodwaters in Coromandel and a woman rescued by kayak as fast-flowing water rose to neck height around her property.
Climate Context and Official Response
Scientists have linked the pattern of increasingly intense rainfall to climate change. James Renwick, a professor of climate science at Victoria University of Wellington, stated, "It seems that these days, every storm brings with it orange or red flood warnings and devastation and misery somewhere in the country. Sadly, this is exactly what we expect with a warmer climate that has more moisture in the air."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon affirmed the government's full support for affected communities and praised the efforts of emergency crews. "All those who are putting themselves in harm’s way to keep Kiwis safe, the whole country is grateful," he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency has warned that further heavy rain is expected, falling on already saturated ground and significantly increasing the risk of additional landslides, flooding, and dangerous river conditions in the coming days.
