The rescue workers are struggling to locate people after the devastating landslide hit the campsite at Mount Maunganui on the northern coast of New Zealand.
Hundreds of people, including children, were at the campsite when the landslide occurred on early Thursday. Emergency minister Mark Mitchell equated the site to a "war zone", adding that the helicopters were deployed to rescue families sheltering on rooftops from flooding.
Multiple people, including children, missing in New Zealand holiday park landslip
— Alma Gentil (@Chinoy200096633) January 22, 2026
A hillside has given way at a campsite in Mount Maunganui following rare "threat to life" weather warnings.
The precise number has not been shared, though police say it is in the "single figures".… pic.twitter.com/5qlrBCoRKw
Sniffer dogs are also on the scene to locate people trapped.
Footage from Mount Maunganui revealed overturned camper vans and upturned trees.
Eyewitness video from New Zealand shows the aftermath of a powerful landslide that damaged homes, roads, and infrastructure as emergency crews search for possible victims and assess the risk of further slides after heavy rain. #NewZealand #Landslide #EyewitnessVideo pic.twitter.com/HI8BdY06eA
— APT News (@APT__News) January 22, 2026
Alister McHardy, a fisherman, recalled the horrifying incident, saying that he heard the "rolling thunder and cracking of trees", before seeing the "whole hillside give way," he told NZ Herald.
People were screaming and running, he added. "I saw people getting trapped," said McHardy.
Mount Maunganui is a popular tourist spot. Located at the edge of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty, it offers a blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a sophisticated boutique vibe.
Sonny Worrall, an Australian man, narrowly escaped the landslide while swimming in a nearby pool. “As I’m swimming, I heard this huge landslide behind me, trees cracking, and there was a caravan that almost hit me. I had to dive into the next pool,” he told news outlet Stuff. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said.
Several pieces of footage circulated on social media showing flooded houses, farmland and community centres.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents in affected areas to heed local authorities' safety advice during the extreme conditions.
"Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted," Luxon posted on social media.
