Key Takeaways
- January’s extreme rainfall triggered 42 landslides on Mauao (Mount Maunganui), with 29 directly damaging the base track.
- One landslide devastated the local holiday park, resulting in six fatalities and prompting a 10‑day recovery effort.
- The base track is now described as “obliterated,” showing a tangle of broken trees, bare earth, and profound silence.
- Earthworks on the summit track have begun and may take up to three months; no firm timeline exists yet for the base track’s remediation.
- Iwi leaders and Tauranga City Council officials stress the enormity of the task, noting that even bulldozers struggle to access the damaged area.
- Recovery Manager Charlie Rahiri is leading assessments of damage extent, costs, timeframes, and safest repair methods, focusing on the ocean‑side portion of the base track.
- The future of the holiday park and hot pools remains undecided pending a joint decision by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council.
- An external review of council actions preceding the tragedy, a central government inquiry into regional landslides, and separate police and WorkSafe investigations are all underway.
Overview of the January Rainfall Event
In January, the Bay of Plenty experienced an unprecedented deluge, receiving more than two months’ worth of rain in less than twelve hours. This intense rainfall set off 42 landslides across Mauao (Mount Maunganui), the iconic volcanic cone that overlooks the town of Mount Maunganui. The sheer volume of water saturated the slopes, destabilising the soil and rock and triggering a cascade of earth movements that reshaped the landscape in a matter of hours.
Impact on the Holiday Park and Loss of Life
One of the landslides ripped straight through the town’s holiday park, a popular destination for visitors seeking accommodation and recreation. The slide claimed six lives and left the park in ruins, prompting an immediate 10‑day recovery operation. Emergency services, volunteers, and iwi representatives worked tirelessly to locate victims, clear debris, and provide support to grieving families. The tragedy underscored the sudden and devastating power of the event, turning a leisure spot into a site of mourning and urgent response.
Condition of the Base Track After the Landslides
The base track, which winds around the lower slopes of Mauao, bore the brunt of the landslide activity, suffering 29 separate slides ranging from moderate to severe. When 1News was granted exclusive access alongside iwi representatives, the scene was described as “obliterated.” Broken trees lay scattered like matchsticks, expanses of bare earth were exposed where vegetation had been stripped away, and an eerie silence hung over the area—evidence of the overwhelming force that had torn through the track.
Iwi Perspective on the Damage
Joshua Te Kani, speaking for the local iwi, likened the sight of the damaged maunga to “describing a tupuna or ancestor that’s suffered some great trauma.” This metaphor captures the deep cultural and spiritual connection the Māori community has with Mauao, viewing the mountain not merely as a geological feature but as a living ancestor. The devastation felt personal, as if the very lineage of the people had been wounded, reinforcing the need for a respectful and thoughtful restoration process.
Historical Memories Shared by Mauao Trustee Jack Thatcher
Mauao trustee Jack Thatcher, who grew up on the mountain, recalled childhood memories of watching his father and uncles fish for kaimoana (seafood) in the late 1960s. He expressed frustration at the common perception that the damage could be remedied with simple hand tools, remarking, “We’ve got a lot of people saying ‘oh just give us a spade we can go around there and fix it up’.” Thatcher emphasized that the scale of destruction far exceeds what a spade can address, noting that even bulldozers struggle to reach many of the affected zones due to steep, unstable terrain.
Challenges of Machinery Access and Remediation Feasibility
Thatcher’s comment, “I hope your spade is as big as a bulldozer’s blade,” highlights the logistical nightmare facing recovery teams. The base track’s location on the ocean side of Mauao presents narrow, precarious pathways that large equipment cannot safely navigate. Consequently, any remediation effort must contend with limited access, the need for specialized techniques such as rope‑access work or helicopter‑lifted materials, and heightened safety concerns for workers operating on unstable slopes.
Role of the Mauao Recovery Manager
Tauranga City Council’s newly appointed Mauao Recovery Manager, Charlie Rahiri, is tasked with leading the assessment and planning phases. Rahiri stated that his immediate focus is “the substantial damage to the base track,” with particular attention to the ocean‑side portion where most of the devastation occurred. His team is evaluating the extent of the damage, estimating costs, establishing realistic timeframes, and determining the safest methods to restore the track while minimizing further environmental impact.
Uncertain Future for the Holiday Park and Hot Pools
While recovery efforts progress, the future of the holiday park and the nearby hot pools remains undecided. Decisions about rebuilding, relocating, or repurposing these facilities will be made jointly by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council. Stakeholders must balance community desires, economic considerations, cultural significance, and safety regulations before committing to any course of action.
Ongoing Investigations and Reviews
In the aftermath of the tragedy, multiple accountability processes are underway. An external review of the Tauranga City Council’s actions leading up to the January event is expected next month. Simultaneously, a central government inquiry into regional landslides is examining broader systemic factors, while police and WorkSafe investigations scrutinize potential lapses in safety protocols, land‑use planning, and emergency preparedness. These inquiries aim to identify lessons learned and prevent similar catastrophes in the future.
Summary of the Recovery Outlook
The January deluge left Mauao’s base track in a state of severe disarray, compounded by the loss of life and destruction of community assets. While summit track repairs have begun with a projected three‑month timeline, the base track faces a more complex and uncertain path to restoration. Iwi leaders, council officials, and recovery managers emphasize the need for culturally sensitive, safety‑first approaches that acknowledge the mountain’s ancestral significance. As investigations continue and plans are refined, the community awaits a clear roadmap that will heal both the landscape and the collective spirit of those who call Mauao home.