'A caravan almost hit me': Eyewitness dived out of path of campground slip

Thursday, 22 January 2026

An Australian tourist has described his terrifying escape from the Mount Maunganui landslide, saying he was swimming in a pool when a caravan smashed through a cinder block wall and crashed down beside him.

Speaking to Stuff reporter Tony Wall, the survivor Sonny Worrall from Newcastle, said he had to dive into the next pool to avoid being struck.

“As I'm swimming, I heard this huge landslide behind me, trees cracking, and there was a caravan that almost hit me. I was just fearing for my life. It was the scariest thing I've ever felt in my life” he said.

Still visibly shaken, Worrall said the scene felt “like a movie”.

“Luckily there were no children in the kids’ pool. But who knows — there could have been someone inside the caravan that was swept over.”

Multiple people are missing after a major land slide wiped out parts of a camp site at the base of Mauao in Mount Maunganui, police have confirmed.

The incident happened at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on Thursday morning, emergency services are at the scene.

MP for Bay of Plenty, Tom Rutherford said caravans, a toilet block, cars, and tents have been affected by the landslide, said Rutherford.

Dion Siluch said he was having a massage at the Mount Pools when the 'whole room started shaking like crazy'.

As he was being evacuated he saw a large caravan that had slipped down on to the pools from the campground at Pilot Bay.

A Stuff reporter at the scene near Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park said at multiple ambulances, fire engines and police were present, with a large crowd gathering nearby.

Police have established a base at the Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving Club where officers are working through a register of campers to determine who remains unaccounted for.

Campers could be seen being processed by police.

Helicopters have also been deployed to support ongoing search and rescue efforts.

Police said they were called to Adams Ave after 9.30am.

'The campsite has been evacuated, and Adams Ave is closed while emergency services work to locate anybody who remains in the area.'

Police were pushing back crowds of people who had come out of their Mount apartments to watch, a Stuff reporter said.

“It's for your safety, We don't know if another slip will happen,” one officer said.

Hato Hone St John had eight emergency vehicles on the scene.

That was including four ambulances, one rapid response unit, two operations managers, and a helicopter. Further units were on the way, a spokesperson said.

NZ Herald has reported an eyewitnesses heard people screaming and was concerned some may be trapped.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area, police said.

Mount Maunganui's Facebook page said Mauao is fully closed to the public until further notice, as the area is unsafe due to the large slips.

'Due to the heightened risk to public safety, all tracks, access points, and surrounding areas of Mauao are closed while the considerable damage is assessed. Fencing is being installed and secured at key entry points, with signage and barriers in place at all closure points to prevent public access. Security will also be present to monitor the closure and ensure public safety,' it said.

The public is strongly advised not to enter Mauao, or attempt to bypass fencing or barriers.

Crews from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Maketu, and Greerton are currently assisting, with further crews on the way