Our Council-initiated external review is underway following the landslide at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on 22 January 2026, in which six people tragically lost their lives.
Mahé Drysdale
This review is examining the circumstances leading up to the landslide, with the goal of establishing the facts, timeline, and decisionmaking processes prior to the event, along with the adequacy of risk assessments and monitoring systems. It will provide an independent account of what occurred and identify any lessons or improvements that may help strengthen future safety.
I appointed Hon Paul Davison KC to lead this review. Mr Davison is a retired judge of the High Court who, since retiring from the High Court in 2023, has resumed practice at the Bar as a mediator, arbitrator, and provider of litigation and consultancy advice. He has appeared as counsel before several major commissions of inquiry, notably including the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Air New Zealand DC 10 accident at Mt Erebus.
Last year, he undertook the government-appointed role of Independent Arbiter responsible for determining financial redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit.
Mr Davison’s independence, extensive experience, and reputation for rigorous analysis gives me and our Councillors full trust and confidence in the integrity of the review, and we expect his appointment has offered assurance to our community as well.
While the Terms of Reference for the review are focused on the immediate period prior to the landslide, the scope allows all relevant information to be considered if Mr Davison believes it is appropriate.
We expect the review to be completed by the middle of this year, and it’s separate from any reviews, investigations or inquiries undertaken by central government or associated agencies.
The Mount Maunganui landslide
Meanwhile, the recovery of our treasured mountain, Mauao, local businesses and our wider community continues.
We acknowledge that the landslide has created challenges for some people and businesses, particularly those in the affected area. We’ve worked hard to reduce cordons and limit restrictions as soon as it was safe to do, understanding the priority to get businesses open as quickly as possible.
At the time of writing, Mauao remains closed due to safety risks, with recent assessments identifying 42 landslides across the walking tracks. Safety is our top priority, and any decisions about reopening Mauao will be guided by expert safety advice and will happen alongside the Mauao Trust.
With around one million people walking up or around Mauao each year, its closure has inevitably affected trade during what would normally be a peak trading period. Tauranga City Council has a business support team which is liaising directly with businesses, with Councillors also working alongside them. We continue to advocate strongly with central government and associated agencies regarding the financial support available and assist business owners to navigate the application processes required for that support.
Businesses that had to close due to the cordons put in place immediately after the landslide have received a financial contribution through the Mayoral Relief Fund. We appreciate that the sums involved are relatively small compared to the losses sustained, however they do provide an immediate boost to help with expenses through the period they were forced to close.
Mauao is closed, but importantly, the rest of Mount Maunganui is open. I encourage locals and visitors alike to support nearby businesses, enjoy the Marine Parade Coastal Pathway, make the most of our beaches, and experience everything else the area has to offer. Ongoing support will play an important role in helping businesses, the community, and our city recover from this tragic event.
The landslip at the foot of Mount Maunganui is cordoned off.
