Fire and Emergency’s urban search and rescue teams are continuing a painstaking search for people buried in the Mount Maunganui landslide, warning conditions remain dangerous and the operation could take days.
Several people remain unaccounted for following the major slip at Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mauao on Thursday morning, which hit the campsite's toilet and shower block, knocking over campervans and tents.
Two people were also confirmed to have died in a separate slip at Welcome Bay Rd.
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Assistant National Commander David Guard says specialist teams worked throughout the night, carefully removing layers of debris in what he described as a complex and high-risk environment.
Progress had been slow due to the instability of the site, with a continued risk of further landslides.
"We are operating in a complex and high-risk environment," Guard said.
"We will continue the operation until the search is complete. Our thoughts remain with the families of the people unaccounted for. We ask people to avoid the Mount to allow emergency services to have the space to work safely."
Fire and Emergency urged anyone in a life-threatening situation to call 111.
Desperate rescue operation after hillside tumbled into caravans and tents at popular beachside camp. (Source: 1News)
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it could take "days" for rescue teams to reach the trapped.
He told the Herald a "massive" volume of earth had come down onto the site, slowing efforts as crews work to ensure the slip does not move further.
"It could be days, and we appreciate that everybody is anxious and waiting for their loved ones, and for some answers," Chambers said.
"But we also have to be very careful."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has described the situation as a “profound tragedy” and is today visiting affected areas.
Emergency services across the upper North Island remained under pressure, responding to 306 weather-related callouts from Northland through to the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti between 1am Tuesday and 7am today.
Specialist water rescue teams from around the North Island had now been demobilised, as the focus shifted to the ongoing search at Mt Maunganui and recovery efforts elsewhere.
Bystanders showed 'tremendous courage' - witness
Retired GP Alanna Ratna, who was walking around Mauao when the slip came down, told 1News she heard an "enormous noise" and saw trees "moving down the hillside" as people nearby screamed and ran.
She said two builders immediately climbed onto the roof of the toilet block where children were trapped and began unscrewing roofing panels using tools from their work kit.
"They just grabbed their gear, jumped on the roof and risked their lives because they could hear those children screaming," she said. "Others joined them before the police finally arrived."
She called the pair "the real heroes".
"What I saw was amazing courage from a lot of people that had just been strolling past. I think that's the thing to emphasise, the absolute devastation of the parents and the tremendous courage of those guys that just leapt up on the roof. That's what sticks in your head."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the search continues in Mt Maunganui, Australian police hunt a gunman on the loose, and record breaking Oscars run. (Source: 1News)
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