Key Takeaways
- Lisa Maclennan, a beloved teacher at Morrinsville Intermediate School, died while trying to move campers to safety during the Mount Maunganui landslide on 22 January 2020.
- Her quick warning saved many lives, earning her posthumous recognition as a hero.
- The school initially sought to close for her funeral so staff could attend, but the Ministry of Education said closure would only be allowed if the day were made up later.
- Principal Jenny Clark’s heartfelt letter appealed to the Ministry’s values of empathy, hauora (health and wellbeing), and community care, urging a compassionate reversal.
- After reviewing the request, the Waikato director of education, Marcus Freke, agreed to let the school close without requiring a makeup day and apologized for the earlier “harsh” stance.
- The landslide claimed six lives, including Maclennan, two teenagers, two 71‑year‑olds, and a 20‑year‑old Swedish tourist.
- Community tributes—such as a surfers’ ring at sea, a Givealittle fundraiser, and school memorials—highlighted Maclennan’s lasting impact.
- The episode underscores the importance of flexible, humane policies in educational institutions when staff face profound personal loss.
The Tragedy and Lisa Maclennan’s Heroic Actions
On the morning of 22 January 2020, a massive landslide swept through the Mount Maunganui campsite, burying the toilet block under an estimated 40 tonnes of debris. Amid the chaos, Lisa Maclennan—a 50‑year‑old teacher and tutor at Morrinsville Intermediate School—was seen ushering fellow campers away from the danger zone. Witnesses later recalled that she woke early to warn others that the bank above was deteriorating, a prompt action credited with saving several lives. Her self‑sacrifice was summed up by a Givealittle fundraiser that noted she “lost her life trying to save everyone else,” cementing her status as a local hero in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Community Mourning and the School’s Request to Close
News of Maclennan’s death struck the Morrinsville Intermediate School community deeply. Known affectionately as “Mrs Mac,” she had served as a literacy‑centre tutor for seven years and was regarded as a kind, caring, and selfless mentor to both staff and students. In the days following the landslide, the school resolved to honour her memory by allowing all staff to attend her funeral. To facilitate this, the administration formally requested that the Ministry of Education grant a closure for the day of the funeral, arguing that the entire school community needed time to grieve collectively.
The Ministry’s Initial Refusal and Makeup‑Day Condition
The Ministry’s first response to the school’s request was firm: closure would only be permitted if the school agreed to make up the lost instructional day later in the year. This stance placed the school in a difficult position—either forego the funeral attendance to avoid losing instructional time or disrupt the academic calendar by scheduling a makeup day. The decision was communicated shortly after the request was submitted, prompting frustration among educators who felt the policy overlooked the emotional toll of the tragedy on staff and students alike.
Principal Jenny Clark’s Appeal for Compassion
On 6 February 2020, just four days before Maclennan’s funeral, Principal Jenny Clark submitted a detailed letter to the Ministry under the Official Information Act. In her correspondence, Clark emphasized that the school was navigating “staff hauora [health and wellbeing] alongside the responsibility of nurturing and settling our new intake of students, half of whom knew and worked with Lisa.” She argued that insisting on a makeup day contradicted the core values of empathy, humanity, and care that should guide educational leadership. Citing a Māori proverb that “people and relationships are the foundation of strong, successful schools,” Clark urged the Ministry to reconsider, framing the request not as a privilege but as a necessary act of compassion that would reinforce the school’s spoken values.
Ministry Reconsiders and Issues an Apology
The following day, Marcus Freke, the Waikato director of education, replied to Clark’s letter, stating that the Ministry had “reconsidered” the request and would permit the school to close for the funeral without requiring a makeup day. In his response, Freke added an uncommon note of humility: “I apologise if I appear harsh with my initial position.” He later sent a second email on the eve of the funeral, offering personal condolences and wishing the community “best of luck for tomorrow.” Freke clarified that the original denial had been issued on 5 February 2020, but after reviewing Clark’s appeal and the broader context of the tragedy, the Ministry reversed its stance.
Details of the Landslide Victims
The Mount Maunganui landslide claimed six lives. Among them were Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse‑Kee, both 15‑year‑old students from Pakūranga College; Susan Doreen Knowles, a 71‑year‑old Rotorua property manager; Lisa Anne Maclennan, the 50‑year‑old Morrinsville educator; Mans Loke Bernhardsson, a 20‑year‑old Swedish tourist; and Jacqualine Wheeler, a 71‑year‑old co‑founder of a Rotorua interior‑design store. Photos released by the Herald showed the victims arranged clockwise from the top left, underscoring the diverse ages and backgrounds of those lost. The tragedy resonated nationally, prompting an outpouring of grief and solidarity across New Zealand.
Tributes, Fundraisers, and Community Healing
In the weeks following the disaster, the community honoured Maclennan and the other victims through various gestures. Surfers gathered at Mount Maunganui to form a ring at sea, a symbolic tribute to those lost. A Givealittle campaign launched to support Maclennan’s family quickly gathered donations, highlighting the public’s desire to assist those directly affected. Morrinsville Intermediate School released a poignant memorial describing Maclennan as someone whose “passion was boundless” and who “made an indelible mark on everyone she worked with through her kindness, care and selflessness.” The school’s staff and students continue to refer to her as a hero, a reminder of the profound influence a single compassionate individual can have on a community.
Lessons for Educational Policy and Compassionate Leadership
The episode involving Morrinsville Intermediate School and the Ministry of Education offers several takeaways for policymakers and school leaders. First, rigid adherence to procedural rules—such as requiring makeup days for closures—can appear insensitive when staff are confronted with sudden, traumatic loss. Second, explicit appeals to values like empathy, hauora, and community relationships can effectively motivate bureaucratic reconsideration, as demonstrated by Clark’s letter. Third, timely communication and personal acknowledgment from officials, such as Freke’s apology, help rebuild trust and signal that institutions recognize the human dimension of education. Finally, the incident reinforces the need for education authorities to develop flexible bereavement policies that allow schools to honour lost members without compromising instructional integrity, thereby fostering environments where care is not merely spoken but enacted.
Reflection on Lisa Maclennan’s Legacy
Lisa Maclennan’s life and death encapsulate the enduring power of everyday heroism. Her instinct to protect others, even at personal cost, left an indelible imprint on the Morrinsville community and beyond. The nationwide response—ranging from official apologies to grassroots tributes—illustrates how a single act of bravery can catalyse a collective reassessment of what we value in our schools and societies. As the community continues to heal, Maclennan’s story serves as a lasting reminder that compassion, quick action, and self‑lessness are qualities worth nurturing and protecting in every educational setting.