Heavy Rain Triggers Devastating Landslide, Buries Mount Maunganui Campsite

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Mount Maunganui: A devastating landslide triggered by days of extreme rainfall has struck a popular campsite at Beachside Holiday Park, Mount Maunganui, on New Zealand’s North Island, leaving several people including children unaccounted for and rescuers battling dangerous conditions to find survivors.

 The slip occurred at about 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, when saturated ground above the holiday park suddenly gave way, burying tents, campervans, cars and facilities including a toilet and shower block, according to emergency services.

 Emergency services, including police, firefighters, search and rescue teams and sniffer dogs, were deployed to the scene, conducting a high-risk search operation through unstable debris. Rescuers initially heard voices from beneath the rubble, but no survivors have yet been rescued, and the dangerous terrain has slowed efforts to locate people.

 New Zealand’s Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell described the scene around the affected area as resembling a “war zone”, underlining the severity of destruction and complexity of the search. Rescuers must balance continued searching with ensuring their own safety, given the threat of further land movement.

 Police and emergency officials have not released a definitive count of how many people are missing, but authorities say the total is likely in the single figures, with multiple family groups affected and some relatives directly at the site.

 The landslide was triggered by record rainfall on the North Island, which saw some areas receive months’ worth of rain in just hours, forcing evacuation orders, flooding roads and cutting power to communities. The extreme weather system also prompted rare “threat to life” warnings from meteorological authorities before the disaster unfolded.

 In other parts of the region, additional landslides and flooding incidents have been reported, including in Welcome Bay, where a separate slip damaged a home and left others unaccounted for.

 Police and emergency managers have asked the public to stay clear of the affected area to allow crews full access and ensure safety. They are still working to confirm the number of people present at the campground at the time, noting that some visitors may have checked out without notifying staff, complicating efforts to account for everyone.

 Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has pledged full government support for response and recovery operations, and local officials continue to coordinate with civil defence and community organisations to assist displaced campers and families.

 As rescue efforts continue amid challenging conditions, emergency personnel remain focused on locating possible survivors and providing support to families awaiting news of loved ones.

Photo Credit:AFP