Mount Maunganui Landslide Leaves Campers Missing After Record Rain

Mount Maunganui, a beloved coastal destination on New Zealand’s North Island, has been plunged into crisis and heartbreak after a catastrophic landslide struck a popular holiday park early on January 22, 2026. The disaster, triggered by the region’s wettest day on record—with rainfall matching two-and-a-half months’ worth in just 12 hours—has left several people missing, including children, and the community gripped by anxiety and grief.

According to the NZ Herald, the collapse occurred at the Beachside Holiday Park at the foot of Mount Maunganui, a site known for its relaxed seaside atmosphere and bustling tourist activity. The landslide followed a rare and severe weather event, with MetService issuing a red weather warning for a “threat to life” across several regions of the North Island. Swathes of the island were battered by storms, leading to flooding and unstable ground conditions that continue to hamper rescue efforts.

New Zealand’s Minister for Emergency Management, Mark Mitchell, confirmed that “young people” are among those missing. At a press briefing, he explained, “The teams are working as hard as they can to try and recover people from the slide … but it’s a difficult and challenging site, because we could face further slides there.” Mitchell emphasized the complexity of the rescue operation, noting that shifting earth and the risk of additional collapses made every moment perilous for both survivors and responders.

Most of the holiday park’s guests were evacuated in the immediate aftermath, but several remain unaccounted for. The exact number of missing individuals is still uncertain, as authorities work to reconcile lists of guests with those who may have left the site without notifying anyone. “There were some people that left the campsite that no one knew had left. So we’re still tracking people down, checking CCTV footage,” Mitchell told Radio New Zealand. “There’s still people to be notified, so the focus is on getting that work done and providing the support to the families.”

The emotional toll on the community is palpable. Parents and relatives have gathered at a nearby surf lifesaving club, now serving as an evacuation center and community hub, waiting for any news as search teams comb the debris. The Otumoetai Church of Christ has also opened its doors to provide shelter and support. Emergency crews, including specialist teams and sniffer dogs, are working tirelessly, but unstable ground has forced rescuers to withdraw from the most dangerous areas at times, slowing their progress.

The disaster has drawn national attention, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describing the landslide as a “profound tragedy” that has left New Zealand “heavy with grief.” Luxon is scheduled to visit both the Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay disaster sites on January 23, 2026, to meet with emergency personnel and affected families. “Our government is doing everything we can to support those impacted,” Luxon stated, according to RNZ.

Eyewitnesses have recounted harrowing scenes as the landslide tore through the campsite. Mark Tangney, a hiker, described the immediate aftermath to the New Zealand Herald: “I could just hear people screaming, so I just parked up and ran to help. I was one of the first there. There were six or eight other guys there on the roof of the toilet block with tools just trying to take the roof off because we could hear people screaming: ‘Help us, help us, get us out of here.’” Tragically, the voices eventually fell silent as the situation deteriorated.

Another witness, Nix Jaques, told RNZ she was about to walk up Mauao when she heard an “incredibly loud noise.” She saw the land slide down onto structures, shifting vehicles and collapsing an ablutions block. “There was a family with a campervan,” she recalled, adding that she tried to help a couple searching for their missing child before emergency services arrived.

Fire and Emergency commander William Pike explained that initial crews heard voices from the rubble, but mounting risks forced them to pull back. “Our initial fire crew arrived and were able to hear the same,” Pike said, but added, “Not that I know of, no,” when asked if voices had been heard since then. The search continues, with authorities determined to leave no stone unturned.

As the nation grapples with the aftermath, the broader context of New Zealand’s vulnerability to extreme weather events has come under renewed scrutiny. Climate science professor James Renwick of Victoria University of Wellington told the Science Media Centre, “We have that much more flooding ‘fuel’ in the atmosphere that significant floods come much more readily now. To stop such events becoming worse, to stop them overwhelming our abilities to adapt, we must stop adding carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the air.” Renwick’s call for urgent decarbonization echoes concerns that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of storms, making disasters like this increasingly common.

The landslide at Mount Maunganui was not the only tragedy that day. In nearby Welcome Bay, just a short drive from the tourist hub, a separate landslip destroyed a home and killed two people. Superintendent Tim Anderson of New Zealand Police described the events as “one in 100 years events,” underscoring the rare and devastating nature of the storms that have battered the region.

Authorities have asked the public to stay away from affected areas to allow emergency services to work without hindrance. “The last thing we need is rubberneckers in the area,” Superintendent Anderson cautioned. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia has said “urgent inquiries” are underway to determine whether any Australians were caught up in the disaster, but there is currently no indication of foreign nationals being involved.

The impact has been felt beyond the immediate disaster zone. Surf Life Saving New Zealand canceled a major lifesaving competition scheduled for the weekend at the Mount Maunganui club, citing respect for the families of those still unaccounted for and the logistical impossibility of proceeding with the event. Local businesses and organizations have rallied to provide support and shelter, demonstrating the community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.

As search and rescue operations continue into the night, the fate of the missing remains uncertain, and the nation watches with bated breath. For now, Mount Maunganui—a place usually filled with laughter and holiday cheer—stands as a somber reminder of nature’s power and unpredictability. The coming days will test the resolve of rescuers, officials, and families alike, as they seek answers and hope amid the devastation.