A search is under way for several people missing, including children, following a landslide at a campsite in New Zealand.
The landslide happened at 9.30am local time (8.30pm GMT Wednesday), sending rubble barrelling down on the campsite in Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist spot on the northern coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
One witness, Nix Jaques, told Radio NZ she heard an incredibly loud noise as she was about to walk up a mountain.
“I turned around and I could see the land coming down onto some structures,” she said. “There were some vehicles that were moved. It came down on an ablutions block - I believe there were some people in the showers - and it shifted a campervan, there was a family with a campervan.”
Hundreds of families at the site were evacuated and emergency services were working to locate anybody who remains in the area, authorities said at a press conference.
Eyewitness videos shot from a helicopter showed landslides that had occurred in northern New Zealand due to heavy rain, including one at a campsite in Mount Maunganui, a popular tourist spot on the northern coast of the country https://t.co/UZsVRsmbni pic.twitter.com/YXLZhVzqTx
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 22, 2026
The number of people missing was in the “single figures”, said Police District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson.
“It is possible we could find someone alive,” he said.
At least six people including several children are missing, according to news site Stuff.co.nz.
Emergency Minister Mark Mitchell earlier confirmed children were among those unaccounted for.
Fire and Emergency Commander William Park said first responders had detected signs of life in the rubble but withdrew after concerns of further ground movement.
“My understanding was members of the public... tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices. Our initial fire crew arrived and were able to hear the same. Shortly after our initial crew arrived we withdrew everyone from the site due to the possible movement of the slip,” Mr Park said.
Local media cited Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell as saying children were among those missing and that helicopters had been deployed to help with search and rescue efforts.
Heavy rains in the region have caused widespread damage and left thousands without power.
Another landslide struck a house in neighbouring Papamoa and two people were missing, police said.
In another incident on Wednesday, a person was missing after being washed away in their vehicle north of Auckland.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on X that he was “actively monitoring situations across the country” including in Mt Maunganui.
“The good news is everyone responded very quickly. There was time to get prepared, and that helps to mitigate and create a strong response,” Mr Mitchell told Radio NZ.
New Zealand Transport Authority reported road closures in Northland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato and local authorities said some small communities were cut off due to damage to the roads.
New Zealand forecaster MetService has lifted all weather warnings in the North Island as the tropical low moves east. Some warnings remain in place for the South Island, but they are expected to ease on Thursday, it said.
