PM decries spread of ‘misinformation’ after landslide

Monday, 26 January 2026

Recovery efforts are continuing on Monday at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told media on Monday he was aware of misinformation being spread in regards to the fatal Mt Maunganui landslide on Thursday.

Luxon was on Monday at He Maimai Aroha, where a community care centre has been set up.

Luxon said mistruths following natural disasters were not uncommon when asked if he was aware of rhetoric being spread online.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says those sharing incorrect rhetoric about the role of iwi in caring for the maunga where six people remain missing after a landslide should keep it to themselves.

'I'm aware there's a lot of misinformation and stuff going on out there, there always is in circumstances like this.'

Luxon told media there would be plenty of time to properly process and question 'a bunch of things' but as for now 'we need to stay together and support each other'.

'The people on the margins with their rhetoric, they just need to, frankly, keep it to themselves.'

According to the New Zealand Herald, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell characterised those spreading misinformation as 'trolls'.

'My reflection on having been minister now for two years, I've had 24 local states [of] emergency, iwi and hapū know how to do emergency management, they're outstanding, they step up every time, and for everyone, for the whole community.'

The trees

The 2018 the Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan outlined the the removal of exotic planted and wilding trees would be progressively implemented.

After Cyclone Gabrielle the Tauranga District Council removed eight large exotic trees were removed on the Pila Bay/Waikorire side of the mountain.

A Mount Maunganui local says he watched muddy water pour from the hillside just two hours before a major landslide came down, leaving six people unaccounted for, including teenagers.

They were in close proximity of sensitive archaeological terraces near Te Ara Tūtanga (the base track).

A press release sent out at the time said work was a continuation of the exotic tree removal which took place by helicopter in June 2022 and aligned with the 2018 Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan, 'which confirms that exotic trees will progressively be removed from Mauao, given its status as a special ecological area'.