Mt Maunganui landslide: Strong winds, showers could hamper rescue efforts

Friday, 23 January 2026

Wild weather could return to already battered parts of the North Island, including near the scene of the devastating landslide in Mount Maunganui.

At least six people remain unaccounted for at the Beachside Holiday Park, with rescuers continuing to search the site.

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Fire and Emergency assistant national commander David Guard said they were continuing to treat it as a rescue operation.

“We’re working in complete conjunction with police and I want to thank all the contractors that have been brought in to assist us … we’re working 24/7.”

But with bad weather expected to return, it’s feared time could be running out to locate those buried in the rubble.

MetService meteorologist John Law told The Post it might not be rain that hampers the ongoing operation, with stronger winds predicted in the region as the country heads into the weekend.

“There's currently a strong wind watch which covers Auckland, the Coromandel down into that northern part of the Bay of Plenty - so areas north of Tauranga, including the Mount,” he said.

“One of the concerns will be some stronger winds that come through, and that's also the same for the other side of the hills out through Waikato.”

High winds are expected between midday and 5pm Saturday.

The “gusty westerlies” - coming from up and over the top of the Kaimai Ranges - will be the “real risk” to the search and rescue mission, Law said.

Rain could also prove problematic, with the chance of showers and even thunderstorms or hail for parts of the Bay of Plenty. However, it shouldn’t be to the same level seen in recent days.

“It's worth saying, obviously, with saturated grounds - you don't need much more rainfall, so just take that extra precaution,” he said.

“These can be quite isolated affairs. So you may not get them everywhere, but there could still be potentially some heavy rainfall to come through. But I think the real risk for tomorrow is going to be the windy conditions.”

The Post asked Fenz if it was concerned about poor weather conditions delaying the rescue operation, but didn’t receive an immediate reply. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, who visited the Mount Maunganui site on Friday, said it could take days to reach those trapped beneath the landslide.

Law said Sunday was looking like a better day for the North Island. Though there is still the chance of showers and gusty winds, conditions will start to ease.

Storm-damaged roads in Coromandel still closed

While attention is directed primarily at the Bay of Plenty, Law said other parts of the North Island could experience further rain and wind as well.

“The biggest risks are going to be … if you drew a line from Hamilton to Tauranga, and north of there, and then the whole Auckland region,” he said.

“For those areas in Tairāwhiti it's the far northern parts, but I think even places like Gisborne city will be pretty windy tomorrow [Saturday] as well.”

Meanwhile, storm damage across the Coromandel Peninsula means several road closures - including on parts of the state highway - will remain in place heading into the Auckland Anniversary long weekend.

“Dozens” of slips, areas of instability, and debris have caused damage on the network, with crews working to clear routes where safe to do so.

State Highway 25 from Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi, and from Whangamatā to Whiritoa, remain closed.

The route from Hikuai to Whangamata was expected to reopen at 7pm on Friday.

SH25 from Coromandel to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West and the Karangahake Gorge from Paeroa to Waihi are open but with traffic management in place.

“While some areas have been reopened relatively quickly, several significant slips are still moving and will take days to fully clear,” said the Transport Agency’s system manager for Waikato, Andy Oakley, in a statement.

“Work can only continue when it is safe for crews to be on site.”

Oakley warned drivers over the long weekend to follow the advice of Civil Defence and local councils and only travel if necessary.