Nearly a week after six people were killed in a landslide at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, questions remain regarding the timeline of events and the actions taken by authorities. The tragedy has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into how the disaster unfolded and whether earlier intervention could have prevented the loss of life.
Early Warnings and Initial Response
The sequence of events began around 5:00 am on January 22nd, when camper Lisa Anne Maclennan noticed a slip had moved her campervan approximately one meter forward. She began alerting fellow campers, advising them to relocate. Maclennan attempted to contact campground emergency services but was unable to reach anyone, and then tried contacting Civil Defence.
A woman staying next to Maclennan corroborated this account, stating Maclennan’s warning was, “I’m just waking everyone up because I think everyone should move.” The woman then contacted police at 6:18 am, reporting the slips and expressing concern about a “homeless man” in the toilet block who was exhibiting erratic behavior. The call lasted eight minutes.
Conflicting Accounts and Delayed Action
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) confirmed receiving a 111 call at 5:48 am regarding a slip near the campground. FENZ stated they contacted the Tauranga City Council, the landowners, at 5:51 am. However, initial statements from Tauranga City Council chief executive Marty Grenfell indicated no record of receiving this call. The council later issued a corrected statement confirming they did receive a call from FENZ around 5:50 am, clarifying the initial statement referred only to logs in the Emergency Operations Centre.
Approximately two hours after the initial 111 call to FENZ, a Tauranga City Council ute was observed driving through the campground, passing directly by three visible slips. A witness stated she called out to the driver, alerting him to the slips, but was unsure if she was heard.
Ongoing Investigation and Calls for Inquiry
Police confirmed they received the call regarding a “disorder incident” at 6:18 am, with the informant also mentioning a potential landslip. However, police did not attend the scene as it was unclear if the disorder resulted in property damage. Between 5:00 am and 9:30 am, police received another call regarding a slip on a nearby base track, where the informant noted cones had been placed to restrict access.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale stated the council is cooperating with inquiries but emphasized the need to establish a clear timeline of events and determine if appropriate actions were taken. He confirmed council staff were present at the campground at the time of the slip but could not specify how many or what actions they took following notification from FENZ.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has indicated a “strong case” for an independent government inquiry, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest with a council-led investigation and the need for answers for grieving families. The council has already initiated its own inquiry, but a government investigation could provide a more impartial assessment of the events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the first warning about the slips occur?
Lisa Anne Maclennan began warning fellow campers around 5:00 am on January 22nd after a slip moved her campervan.
When was the Tauranga City Council first notified about the slips?
Fire and Emergency New Zealand notified the Tauranga City Council at 5:51 am on January 22nd regarding a slip near the campground.
Did police attend the campground after the initial reports of a slip?
Police received a call at 6:18 am regarding a disorder incident and a potential landslip, but did not attend as it was unclear whether the disorder resulted in any property damage.
As investigations continue, it remains to be seen what further details will emerge regarding the events leading up to the landslide and whether different decisions could have altered the tragic outcome.
