Mount Maunganui landslide review finds tragedy was preventable

An external review into the January 22 landslide at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park has concluded that the tragedy, which claimed six lives, was “preventable” due to systemic failures within the Tauranga City Council.

The independent report, authored by former High Court Judge Paul Davison, found that the landslide hazard was not unknown or hidden. For over two decades, various consultants had identified the risk on the specific slope that failed and warned of potential consequences. Despite these warnings, the risk remained unmanaged.

Experts noted that while numerous reports since 1999 highlighted the potential for a mass fatality event during heavy rain, mitigation options were never actioned. The failure was attributed to a systemic issue where responsibility for managing the risk fell through the cracks, rather than the fault of a single individual. This highlights a broader trend in disaster management where focus remains on recovery rather than proactive risk reduction.