Deadly Landslides Hit New Zealand Campground, Two Dead

Deadly Landslides Devastate New Zealand Tourist Destination

Two people have been confirmed dead and several others remain missing after devastating landslides struck a popular campground and residential area in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The disaster occurred during peak summer holiday season when the region was hit by extreme rainfall that triggered multiple landslides across the North Island.

Campground Catastrophe

The most severe incident happened at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park around 9:30am on Thursday, where a massive landslide buried campervans, cars, tents, and shower facilities. Witnesses described hearing voices from under the rubble initially, but rescue teams report those calls have since gone silent.

Tourist Dion Siluch, who survived the landslide, captured dramatic footage of the destruction. 'It sounded like a freight train thundering past us,' he told reporters. Another camper described the terrifying moment: 'I looked behind me and saw an enormous landslide. I jumped out of my chair and ran as fast as I could. I'm still shaking on my legs.'

Rescue Operations Underway

Emergency services including 40 firefighters and sniffer dogs are working to locate survivors, though unstable ground conditions are complicating efforts. Local police chief warned that rescue workers must proceed cautiously due to the risk of additional landslides.

'The rescue operation is not straightforward,' authorities stated. 'We have to work carefully because there's a risk of new landslides.' The exact number of missing persons remains unclear, but police estimate it's in the 'single figures' with fewer than ten people unaccounted for.

Extreme Weather Conditions

The landslides were triggered by unprecedented rainfall that battered New Zealand's North Island. In just twelve hours, the region received as much rain as normally falls in 2.5 months, according to meteorological reports. The January 2026 New Zealand storms have caused widespread damage across the east coast of the North Island from January 16-22.

States of emergency have been declared in multiple regions including Whangarei District and Thames-Coromandel District. The extreme weather has caused major road closures, evacuations, and widespread travel disruptions affecting Northland Region, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty Region, and Gisborne District.

Geological Vulnerability

Mount Maunganui, known locally as 'The Mount,' is a popular tourist destination famous for its beaches and extinct volcano. The area has complex geology primarily composed of volcanic rocks, which suggests high landslide susceptibility. Historical data indicates landslides have been common in the region due to steep terrain and weak volcanic soils.

In a separate but related incident, two people were killed by an early morning landslide at Welcome Bay Road in Papamoa, also in the Bay of Plenty region. A father-of-four from Kiribati remains missing after being swept away by floodwaters near Warkworth in north Auckland.

As rescue operations continue, authorities are urging residents to follow official evacuation orders and avoid unnecessary travel. The disaster highlights the increasing vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events in the era of climate change.