Local authorities in New Zealand halted recovery work on Sunday at the site of a devastating landslide that struck a busy summer campground on the North Island, officials said. The suspension follows discovery of a new crack at the site, prompting police to remove personnel for safety reasons.
The landslide occurred on Thursday at Mount Maunganui, on the east coast of the North Island in the city of Tauranga. Heavy rain triggered the slide, sending soil and rubble through an area that was crowded with families on holiday. Six people, including two teenagers, are currently presumed dead.
Search teams located human remains at the scene on Saturday and the operation moved from search to recovery. On Sunday, police Superintendent Tim Anderson announced the pause after the crack was observed.
"As a result of that, we’ve had to pull all our staff out," Anderson said. "We’ve had to do that for the safety of everyone concerned."
Anderson did not provide a timetable for when recovery efforts might resume, saying authorities were taking the situation "day by day at the moment."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon commented on Saturday after officials shifted focus to recovery, calling the development "devastating to receive the news we have all been dreading." He also expressed solidarity with the families affected in a post on X: "To the families who have lost loved ones - every New Zealander is grieving with you," Luxon wrote.
In addition to the Mount Maunganui incident, heavy rain earlier in the week produced another fatal landslide in the neighbouring suburb of Papamoa, where two people were killed.
The suspension of recovery operations underscores ongoing safety risks at unstable slopes after intense rainfall. Authorities have emphasized the need to prioritize the safety of responders while assessments continue. Officials have been identifying victims and dealing with the effects of recent extreme weather in the area.
The evolving situation remains subject to further developments as geotechnical conditions are monitored and officials determine when it will be safe to resume work.