Fundraising pages set up for some of the Mount Maunganui landslide victims' families have raised thousands of dollars, with donors paying heartfelt tribute to those trapped by last week's massive slip.
By Soumya Bhamidipati of rnz.co.nz
Six people were caught when a landslide came down at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block at about 9.30am on Thursday, January 22.
The victims have been named as Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.
A Givealittle page set up by Maclennan's sister had raised almost $13,000 within 13 hours for the Morrinsville teacher's family.
"She lost her life trying to save everyone else," the page said.
"We cannot put a value on the loss of a loved one but any donations will make a difference and help this whanau through this extremely difficult time."
Many donors commented on Maclennan's work with Morrinsville Intermediate School students over the years, while others paid tribute to the final acts of a "courageous, selfless woman".
A separate page has also been set up "In Loving Memory" of Furse-Kee, with $35,435 donated to the teenager's family in less than 15 hours.
Page creator and family friend Samuel Holliday wrote that he'd had the privilege "of seeing Max grow into the beautiful, much-loved child he is", and said the family was "facing an unimaginable loss".
"There are no words that can truly ease the pain of losing a child. Max was deeply loved, and his loss has left a hole in the hearts of his family, friends, and everyone who knew him."
The funds raised would be used to help with immediate and ongoing costs, time away from work, and whatever support the family needed, the page said.
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On Monday evening, about 100 people gathered at Auckland Domain to remember another Pakuranga College student and landslide victim, Sharon Maccanico.
Meanwhile, work has resumed to recover the six missing people, with tens of thousands of cubic metres of dirt to comb through.
Tauranga City Council is heading an independent review into the events leading up to the landslide and WorkSafe has announced it will look into the organisations involved in the holiday park.
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