At least two people have died after landslides tragically struck a house and a holiday campground on New Zealand’s North Island on Thursday.
Emergency services are racing to rescue people trapped under rubble, but authorities say there have been no "sign of life" for hours as they estimate the number of people missing was in the "single figures".
The first landslide hit a house in Welcome Bay at about 4.50am on Thursday (3.50pm GMT on Wednesday). Two people escaped, but the bodies of two others trapped inside were later recovered, emergency management minister Mark Mitchell said.
Hours later, a second landslide hit Beachside Holiday Park, at the base of Mount Maunganui, crushing vehicles, campervans and an amenities block.
“There was a shower block … and there were people using that at the time the slide came through,” Mitchell told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said early searches detected voices from beneath the debris but crews were later forced to withdraw because of unstable ground.
Further north, a man remains missing after being swept away by floodwaters near Warkworth on Wednesday.
Key Points
- 'No signs of life' as search for those missing in landslide continues
- At least two killed in landslides in New Zealand
- Mapped: New Zealand's East Coast hit by landslides
- Voices heard from rubble after landslide
- What is Mount Maunganui? The popular Kiwi beach town devastated by floods
Woman trapped in landslide a 'hero', says camper
13:45 , Harriette BoucherA woman thought to be trapped under the debris at Mount Maunganui’s campsite has been praised as a “hero” after she warned others of the impending danger.
The camper, who managed to escape despite her campervan being crushed by the landslide, told the NZ Herald: “I just want you to know that one of the women that’s in the shower block, she was a hero.”
She said the woman did all she could to help save lives on Thursday.
“She went around at 5 o’clock this morning and she got us all out of bed and she woke us all up so that we could move out...and she’s not out.”
A recent history of New Zealand's worst weather events
13:20 , Harriette BoucherThe flooding and landslides that struck New Zealand on Thursday is the latest extreme weather event to have devastated the country in recent years.
The government has again been urged to take stronger action on climate change, with climate scientist James Renwick saying it must find a way to decarbonise the economy as soon as physically possible.
The Independent has taken a look at some of the worst weather events New Zealand has seen in recent years:
Cyclone Gabrielle
In 2023, New Zealand saw one of its most devastating weather events after Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods killed 19 people.
The back-to-back events took place over a number of days in early 2023, causing a national state of emergency to be declared as strong winds and heavy rain lashed parts of the North Island.
Hundreds of homes and large areas of farm land were destroyed in the deadly storms.
Nelson and Tasman Floods
In 2022, the South Island’s Nelson and surrounding Tasman region experienced a 1-in-120-year rainfall event, which caused severe flooding and hundreds of landslides.
The flooding caused damage to highways, infrastructure and hundreds of properties. According to the Insurance Council, there were 3,165 weather-related claims with a provisional value of $47.98m.
Canterbury Floods
The South Island’s Canterbury region was hit by flooding in 2021, with hundreds of people forced to evacuate their homes as the flood wreaked havoc on the community.
River water levels rose across the region in a "one-in-100-year deluge", and multiple highways, schools and workplaces were closed.
Around 1,500 homes without power overnight
13:00 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand electricity company PowerCo estimates that around 1,500 households are still without power, local media has reported.
According to Stuff, many of the homes still experiencing power outages are in Mount Maunganui and Te Aroha, which is in the nearby Waikato region.
At around 1am local time on Thursday, around 14,900 properties were affected by power cuts in the storm regions.
What is Mount Maunganui? The popular Kiwi beach town devastated by floods
12:45 , Harriette BoucherMount Maunganui, one of the country’s most popular tourism hotspots, has been devastated by floods which have buried the town’s main campsite and left several people unaccounted for.
Also known as ‘Mauao’, the 232m mountain is a sacred ancient volcano and a place of great spiritual importance for Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people.
Mauao, which means caught by the dawn, is the sacred tūpuna maunga, or ancestral mountain, of the three local iwi groups of the Tauranga Moana region - Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāti Pūkenga.
The famous track around Mauao in Mount Maunganui is one of the country’s most iconic scenic walks, and is thought to be visited by nearly one million people every year.
Ownership of the historic reserve was returned to local Māori in 2007 and is jointly managed by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council.
Wettest day on record for landslide-struck region
12:30 , Harriette BoucherThursday was the wettest day on record for the Tauranga region, where a house and holiday campground were struck by landslides.
New Zealand’s meteorological service MetService said the area saw around three months worth of rain after 274mm fell within 24 hours.
It is said to be Tauranga's wettest day since the records began in 1910.
Whitianga, a town on the northeastern coast, also had its wettest day, with 247mm of rainfall.
Mapped: Where powerful landslides hit New Zealand's East Coast
12:15 , Harriette BoucherClimate scientists calls on NZ govt to 'decarbonise the economy'
12:01 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand climate science professor James Renwick said Thursday’s event was a result of more “flooding fuel” in the atmosphere.
He said: "It seems that these days, every storm brings with it orange or red flood warnings and devastation and misery somewhere in the country.
“Sadly, this is exactly what we expect with a warmer climate that has more moisture in the air.
“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.”
Mr Renwick called on the New Zealand government and business leaders to find ways to decarbonise the economy as soon as physically possible.
'No signs of life' as search for those missing in landslide continues
11:47 , Harriette BoucherAuthorities said there have been no "signs of life" for hours as they continue the search for people missing among the landslide.
It follows reports earlier on Thursday that members of the public heard voices coming from beneath the rubble.
Local media has reported that as many as nine people are unaccounted, with police only confirming the number was in “the single figures”.
Woman trapped in landslide a 'hero', says camper
11:30 , Harriette BoucherA woman thought to be trapped under the debris at Mount Maunganui’s campsite has been praised as a “hero” after she warned others of the impending danger.
The camper, who managed to escape despite her campervan being crushed by the landslide, told the NZ Herald: “I just want you to know that one of the women that’s in the shower block, she was a hero.”
She said the woman did all she could to help save lives on Thursday.
“She went around at 5 o’clock this morning and she got us all out of bed and she woke us all up so that we could move out...and she’s not out.”
Is it safe to travel to New Zealand? Latest advice after Mount Maunganui landslides
11:26 , Harriette BoucherAt least two people have died after landslides struck a popular tourist destination in New Zealand.
The disaster comes after days of inclement weather, which caused extraordinary volumes of rainfall across large parts of the country’s North Island.
One landslide struck a holiday campground that sits at the base of the extinct Mount Maunganui volcano, a sacred place that is culturally important to Māori people.
Is it safe to travel to New Zealand? Latest advice after Mount Maunganui landslides
In pictures: Search for missing people continues after floods ravaged New Zealand's east coast
11:17 , Harriette Boucher
What is Mount Maunganui? The popular Kiwi beach town devastated by floods
11:04 , Harriette BoucherMount Maunganui, one of the country’s most popular tourism hotspots, has been devastated by floods which have buried the town’s main campsite and left several people unaccounted for.
Also known as ‘Mauao’, the 232m mountain is a sacred ancient volcano and a place of great spiritual importance for Māori, New Zealand’s indigenous people.
Mauao, which means caught by the dawn, is the sacred tūpuna maunga, or ancestral mountain, of the three local iwi groups of the Tauranga Moana region - Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāti Pūkenga.
The famous track around Mauao in Mount Maunganui is one of the country’s most iconic scenic walks, and is thought to be visited by nearly one million people every year.
Ownership of the historic reserve was returned to local Māori in 2007 and is jointly managed by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council.
Search efforts at campsite to continue overnight
10:30 , Harriette BoucherRescuers and emergency services will continue their search overnight, as several people, including children, remain missing.
Megan Stiffler, a fire and emergency services official, said: "This is a complex and high-risk environment, and our teams are working to achieve the best possible outcome while keeping everyone safe. The teams will be operating overnight until the search is complete.
The country’s urban search and rescue team is removing layers of debris as earthmoving equipment has been brought on site to assist.
Several missing after landslide rips through popular campsite in New Zealand
10:22 , Harriette BoucherAt least two people have died and rescuers were searching for several more missing, including a child, after landslides tore through a holiday destination amid days of record-breaking rain and flooding in New Zealand.
One major landslide struck a campground at the base of Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano that’s both a popular tourist destination and sacred Māori site, on Thursday morning, overturning campervans, crushing tents, and hitting a toilet and shower block, according to emergency officials.
Several missing after landslide rips through popular campsite in New Zealand
Climate change putting 'stress and strain' on communities, says former PM
10:15 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand’s opposition leader Chris Hipkins said climate change was putting “stress and strain” on communities as the country continues to see more tragic weather events.
In a post on Facebook, the former prime minister said: “Events like these take a real toll, and no one should have to face them alone.
“My thoughts tonight are with all those who have been affected by the extreme weather events that have hit New Zealand in the past few days.
“My deepest sympathy goes to those who have lost loved ones or are still waiting for news, and to everyone who has been forced from their homes or injured.”
Nine people thought to be missing in landslide, local media reports
09:59 , Harriette BoucherAs many as nine people are unaccounted for after a landslide crashed down on Mount Maunganui’s campsite on Thursday, according to local media.
Police have yet to confirm the number, but earlier said it was in “the single figures”.
NZ Herald understands from a source involved in the rescue efforts that several people remained missing under the landslide.
Mapped: New Zealand's East Coast hit by landslides
09:49 , Harriette BoucherWatch: Several missing after New Zealand landslide rips through popular campsite
09:32 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand's east coast a 'war zone', says emergency minister
09:26 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand’s emergency minister Mark Mitchell has likened the country’s east coast to a “warzone” as the aftermath of the flooding comes to light.
In a post on X on Thursday morning, Mr Mitchell said: “It is with a heavy heart that I send my thoughts and condolences to the family that have lost two of their loved ones in the Welcome Bay slip.
“Our thoughts as a country are with you. Thank you to teams that worked so hard to recover them, I know how you will be feeling.”
Firefighters union calls off strike as 'extremely difficult' days to follow
09:13 , Harriette BoucherNew Zealand’s Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has cancelled its strike planned for Friday, stating that the following days will be “extremely difficult for many families and communities”.
NZPFU national secretary Wattie Watson said: “We acknowledge the heroic efforts of members of the public who have braved deadly conditions to rescue their loved ones and neighbours, and in some cases, strangers.
“We also acknowledge all the emergency responders from numerous agencies, including those that work and volunteer for FENZ, who have worked tirelessly in different regions since Sunday’s deluge in Northland.”
'Scariest thing ever,' says Australian tourist who witnessed the landslide
09:00 , Stuti MishraAustralian tourist Sonny Worrall said he was relaxing in a hot pool within the campground when he heard and then saw the landslide.
"I looked behind me and there's a huge landslide coming down. And I'm still shaking from it now," Mr Worrall told New Zealand's 1News news service.
"I turned around and I had to jump out from my seat as fast as I could and just run."
Mr Worrall said he looked back to see the rubble carrying a travel trailer behind him.
"It was like the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life," he said.
'Doing everything we can,' says NZ PM
08:45 , Stuti MishraNew Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon urged residents in affected areas to heed local authorities' safety advice during the extreme conditions.
"Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted," Mr Luxon posted on social media.
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) January 22, 2026
Voices heard from rubble after landslide
08:41 , Stuti MishraFire and Emergency New Zealand commander William Pike said there were some signs of life immediately after the Mount Maunganui slide.
"Members of the public... tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices," Mr Pike told reporters.
"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 possible movement and slip."
Mayor Mahe Drysdale said those unaccounted for earlier had included people who had left the campground without notifying authorities.
The campground was closed after the disaster.
Photos: Aerial view of area affected by landslide
08:41 , Stuti Mishra
Number of people missing in 'single figures
08:38 , Stuti Mishra'Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said the number of people missing was in the "single figures".
No survivors or bodies had been recovered by late evening from the Mount Maunganui rubble, where dogs were being used to search for victims, Mr Mitchell said.
Earlier, north near Warkworth, a man remained missing after floodwaters swept him from a road on Wednesday morning as heavy rain lashed large swathes of the North Island, a police statement said.
At least two killed in landslides in New Zealand
08:26 , Stuti MishraAt least two people were killed when landslides hit a house and campground in New Zealand, while emergency crews were trying to rescue others buried in rubble, officials said.
The first hit a house in the community of Welcome Bay on New Zealand's North Island at 4.50am, police said.
Two people escaped the house, and the bodies of two who were trapped inside were recovered hours later, emergency management minister Mark Mitchell said.
Later the same morning, emergency services were called to a second slide at the base of nearby Mount Maunganui.
The rubble hit Beachside Holiday Park in a town named after the extinct volcano.
