Key Takeaways:
- A woman reported a slip at a campsite in Mount Maunganui to the police at 6:18am on Thursday morning, but no one arrived until 7:45am.
- The woman had previously called Fire and Emergency New Zealand at 5:48am, who notified the Tauranga City Council, but no action was taken.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a possible government inquiry into the landslide, citing concerns about the impartiality of the council’s own inquiry.
- The Tauranga City Council has initiated an independent review into the events leading up to the landslide, which will be reported back to the community as soon as possible.
- Six families are grieving the loss of their loved ones, and the government is working to ensure that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Introduction to the Incident
The incident occurred on Thursday morning at a campsite in Mount Maunganui, where a woman captured a photo of a slip at 6:15am. She immediately called the police at 6:18am to report the incident, expressing her concerns about the potential danger to the people at the campsite, including children. The woman explained to the police that the slip was significant enough to push a campervan forward and was causing a disturbance, with a homeless man in the toilet block becoming agitated and smashing things.
Police Response
The police confirmed that they received an emergency call at 6:18am regarding a disorder incident at the campsite, during which the informant also mentioned a potential landslip. However, the police did not attend the scene as it was unclear whether the disorder resulted in any property damage. Instead, Fire and Emergency New Zealand were alerted to the slip, and the council was notified. Between 5am and 9:30am, the police received another call about a slip on the base track, but the informant left the area safely and noted that cones had been placed to restrict further access.
Council Response
The woman reported that no one arrived at the scene until 7:45am, when a ute with Tauranga City Council signage stopped by. She called out to the driver, warning him about the slips, but was unsure if he heard her. The ute then drove slowly past the slips, and the woman assumed that everything would be fine since someone from the council had seen the slips. However, it was later revealed that the council had received a 111 call from Fire and Emergency New Zealand at 5:50am, notifying them of the slip, but no action was taken.
Government Inquiry
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a possible government inquiry into the landslide, citing concerns about the impartiality of the council’s own inquiry. Luxon stated that there is a strong case for an independent government inquiry, which would be important not only for the grieving families but also for ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The Tauranga City Council has initiated an independent review into the events leading up to the landslide, which will be reported back to the community as soon as possible.
Investigation and Aftermath
The Tauranga City Council has secured the site and is conducting geotechnical assessments to ensure the landslide area is stable. Once the recovery efforts are completed, an examination of the events leading up to the tragic event will be undertaken. The council’s controller, Tom McEntyre, stated that it would not be appropriate to make any comment now that could affect the process or pre-empt the outcome. The incident has resulted in the loss of life, and the government is working to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Conclusion
The incident at the Mount Maunganui campsite has raised concerns about the response of the authorities to the landslide. The woman’s account of the events leading up to the tragedy highlights the importance of taking prompt action in emergency situations. The government’s decision to consider an independent inquiry into the landslide is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that the inquiry will provide answers to the grieving families and help to prevent similar tragedies in the future.