Key Takeaways
- A local resident, Alister McHardy, called 111 at 5:47am to report smaller land slips on Mount Maunganui, but was told to contact the council instead.
- Despite his efforts to raise the alarm, McHardy claims that emergency services did not visit the scene until after a deadly slip occurred at 9:30am.
- The Tauranga City Council announced the closure of walking tracks around the mountain at 8:56am, but did not evacuate the nearby holiday park or Mount Hot Pools.
- An independent review has been announced to examine the events leading up to the landslide and determine if everything was done appropriately in the circumstances.
Introduction to the Incident
The recent landslide at Mount Maunganui has raised questions about the response of emergency services and local authorities to the disaster.
