The Government has confirmed it will conduct an inquiry into fatal landslides at Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa while the city council say widespread closures and safety measures remain in place at the base of Mauao.
Six people were killed when a landslide hit the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on the morning of January 22 following heavy rain.
The victims were Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.
Earlier that same morning, another landslide hit a home in Papamoa, killing Yao Fang, 71, and her grandson, Austen Keith Richardson, 10.
Associate Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Chris Penk confirmed on Thursday that the Government was progressing with an inquiry into both fatal landslides in Tauranga.
"It’s clear those directly affected by this tragic and unimaginable loss, alongside the wider community, want to understand how these events occurred, and whether anything could have been done to prevent them," he said.
Penk said the next step was for a detailed paper to be taken to Cabinet to set out the proposed scope, terms of reference, budget, and members appointed to conduct the Inquiry.
"Those responsible for the Inquiry will be required to communicate with the families of the victims about its process and progress. It is my sincere hope that undertaking an Inquiry will help provide answers for all."
Mauao remains closed with facilities off limits
Tauranga City Council said geotechnical engineers were continuing to assess the risk of further slips surrounding a number of structures at the base of Mauao.
Council recovery manager Paula Naude said the whole area continued to be monitored by engineers.
The Pilot Bay boat ramp would be closed for the foreseeable future while the slip hazards continued to be assessed.
"Further information, especially following the next heavy rainfall, may help give greater confidence in determining the likelihood of a slip," Naude said.
"However, until the slip hazard has been reduced to an acceptable level, the boat ramp will remain closed."
There were a number of large slips on the slope behind Mount Maunganui Surf Club, with cracks in the track suggesting further movement could be likely.
"As a result of this risk, and on the advice of geotechnical engineers, our building team issued a red building placard for the surf club building under the CDEM Act," Naude said.
"This step, and especially as the geotechnical engineers will have further confidence following our next significant rainfall, is expected to allow the surf club to be safely reoccupied in due course."
An automated alarm system was in place at the Mount Hot Pools and campground area, where the fatal landslide took place, which would sound if there were further slips.
Shipping containers had been installed beside the footpath and Adams Ave as a precautionary measure to stop any potential debris movement.
"If people are near the fencing when an alarm goes off, they’re advised to move away from the area as quickly as possible," the council said.
"People are encouraged to visit the area and support local businesses, but we ask them to respect the no-go zones, fencing, signage and on-site instructions."
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