Key Takeaways:
- Two bodies, a grandmother and her grandchild, were recovered by police from a landslide-hit house in Welcome Bay, Pāpāmoa.
- The grandchild was a talented musician who had recently started taking piano lessons at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Mt Maunganui.
- Six people, including two teenagers, are currently unaccounted for following the landslide, with the youngest being 15-years-old.
- Police are asking for video footage and information to help with their enquiries and are providing support to the families of those affected.
- The community is coming together to show support and empathy for those affected by the weather event.
Introduction to the Tragedy
A devastating landslide hit a house in Welcome Bay, Pāpāmoa, resulting in the deaths of two people, a grandmother and her grandchild. The grandchild, a talented young musician, had recently started taking piano lessons at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Mt Maunganui. The church’s director of music, Chalium Poppy, described the boy as "bright" and "incredibly talkative" with a "really cool, sort of inquisitive mind" and obvious musical talent. Poppy had been scheduled to give the boy a piano lesson on the day of the landslide, but was instead informed by a friend of the family that the boy was missing.
The Recovery Efforts
The recovery efforts have been ongoing, with police working to identify the victims and provide support to their families. Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson confirmed that one of the people who died was a Chinese national. He also stated that six people, including two teenagers, are currently unaccounted for, with the youngest being 15-years-old. Police are asking anyone with video footage of the slip at Mt Maunganui to upload it via an online portal, and are also seeking information about the whereabouts of three further individuals who are believed to be tourists.
Community Response
The community has come together to show support and empathy for those affected by the weather event. St Peter’s Anglican Church has opened its doors and is holding a vigil, providing a space for people to come and pray, sit in silence, and light a candle. The church’s director of music, Chalium Poppy, said that the church is responding to the tragedy in the only way it knows how, by providing sanctuary and support to the community. The wider community has also shown an outpouring of support, with many people offering condolences and assistance to those affected.
Police Support and Operations
Police are working to support the communities affected by the weather event, with thousands of people still affected across the region. Police, alongside other agencies, are working to provide support and assistance to those in need. In Welcome Bay, where a number of evacuations were carried out, police are carrying out additional patrols around vacant properties until residents can return. Police will continue to work with their partners to support the ongoing operation at Mount Maunganui as the first priority, and will also continue to deploy staff across the region where they are most needed.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The tragedy in Welcome Bay, Pāpāmoa, has had a profound impact on the community, with many people affected by the loss of life and the ongoing recovery efforts. The community is coming together to show support and empathy for those affected, and police are working to provide support and assistance to those in need. As the recovery efforts continue, it is essential that the community remains vigilant and supportive, and that those affected receive the help and assistance they need to recover from this tragic event.
