Two people are dead after a landslide tore through a holiday park at the base of Mount Maunganui during a summer storm, burying tents, campervans, and vehicles in a catastrophic collapse that has shocked New Zealand.
Emergency services launched a major search and rescue operation after the slip struck the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park mid-morning on January 21, following heavy overnight rainfall that destabilized the mountainside.
Two bodies were recovered by search teams, according to New Zealand media reports. The landslide destroyed buildings, including an ablution block, and sent debris crashing onto roofs and vehicles below.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and terror. Canadian tourist Dion Siluch, who was at nearby Mount Hot Pools during the collapse, told reporters "the whole room began to violently shake." Another resident said it sounded "like a truck full of glass rolling over and over."
Mate, this is the kind of disaster that hits during what should be the best time of year. Peak summer holidays, families camping by the beach, and a mountain gives way.
The Scale of Response
The emergency response was massive: over 30 police cars, multiple helicopters including Royal New Zealand Air Force units, seven to eight fire engines, and urban search and rescue teams descended on the scene.
Adams Avenue was closed. The mountain was sealed to the public. Campers were evacuated to the Surf Life Saving Club for a roll call to account for missing persons.
A second, smaller slip temporarily halted rescue efforts as teams worked to stabilize the area and search through the debris.
Broadcaster Brian Kelly noted that an "overnight downpour" had preceded the collapse, saturating the slopes above the popular holiday park.
Summer Storms and Climate Reality
This landslide comes during what many in New Zealand are calling "the summer that forgot to show up." Instead of clear skies and beach weather, the country has been hit by repeated storm systems bringing heavy rain, flooding, and now deadly landslides.
The Bay of Plenty region, where Mount Maunganui is located, has been under severe weather warnings for days. But holiday parks don't close for rain—they're packed with families making the most of the school holidays.
No one expected the mountain to collapse.
This is climate reality hitting home. More intense rainfall events, more landslides, more disasters during what used to be predictable summer weather patterns. And the Pacific Islands know this better than anyone.
The Victims
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the two people killed. Families across New Zealand are waiting for confirmation, hoping their loved ones aren't among the victims.
The holiday park was full of campers—retirees in motorhomes, families in tents, travelers from around the world. It's a popular spot, right at the base of one of New Zealand's most iconic coastal mountains.
Now it's a disaster zone.
What Happens Next
Investigations will focus on what caused the slip and whether there were warning signs. Engineers will assess the stability of the mountain. The holiday park may never reopen in the same location.
But for now, the focus is on recovery, on supporting the families of those killed, and on ensuring no one else is buried under the debris.
This is a tragedy that's hit during peak summer, in a place where thousands of Kiwis and tourists go to relax and enjoy the coast. Instead, families are mourning, rescue teams are digging through rubble, and another community is learning what climate-changed weather patterns mean in practice.
Mate, there's a whole continent and a thousand islands down here. And right now, one of New Zealand's most beautiful summer spots has become a scene of devastation.
