New Zealand

Councillors failed to read landslide warning report before Mount Maunganui tragedy

A report warning of high risk to life from landslide and rockfall at a Mount Maunganui campground went unread by councillors before six people died.

Skinny McBuntu

A warning report commissioned seven months before a deadly landslide at a Mount Maunganui campground was not read by council officials. The August 2025 council meeting scheduled to receive the report was cancelled and never rescheduled. Former mayors and governance leaders said the risk warnings never reached them.

Covered byRNZStuffNZ HeraldOtago Daily TimesNot covered by1NewsNewstalk ZBNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz

Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.

What outlets are saying

NZ Herald

Mount Maunganui campground landslide: Councillors did not read warning report

Councillors received a report warning of rockfall and landslide risks before six died.

Read the full story at NZ Herald

RNZ

Report on Mt Maunganui landslide risk unread: Tauranga City Council

The August 2025 council meeting that was to receive the report warning of the landslide risk was cancelled and never rescheduled.

Read the full story at RNZ

NZ Herald

Mount Maunganui landslide review: Former mayors say camp risk warnings never reached them

The Bay of Plenty Times spoke to mayors and other governance leaders going back to 2004.

Read the full story at NZ Herald