Tauranga City Council has spent more than $5 million responding to January's fatal landslide at Mount Maunganui, including legal fees, security costs, works and equipment hire.
Six people were killed when a large chunk of the maunga gave way after a night of heavy rain on January 22, 2026, collapsing onto the neighbouring Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.
The total expenditure has come out of a $7 million risk reserve approved by TCC, meaning there is $1.81 million of remaining funding available.
The financial table will be presented as part of a council meeting today, addressing retired High Court judge Paul Davison's external review into the landslide.
A recovery progress report will also be presented, as well as a Quantitative Landslide Risk Assessment of the Beachside Holiday Park, Mount Hot Pools and Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service building.
Independent review found the landslide tragedy was preventable and warnings were ignored. (Source: 1News)
The finances have been broken down into three parts; the first being the initial response to the weather event, including physical works and equipment hire ($446,144), travel/accommodation/welfare costs ($78,264) and trauma support services ($17,515).
The second part is the cost of the ongoing recovery of Mauao, including security ($733,923), professional/expert advice ($1,084,045) and recovery staff expense ($226,101).
The final part of the financial table relates to expenditure associated with reviews and associated legal support post event, with the professional/expert advice totalling almost $1.7 million.
As part of its recovery progress report, it's been recommended the Council endorses an Organisation Improvement Programme, with a priority focus on preventing loss of life and serious harm.
The agenda minutes state "there is considerable work required to improve culture, processes and systems and partnerships right across the organisation".
Tauranga City Council has outlined a number of improvements already made, such as putting in place Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs) around various sites in the city including Mauao, and developing improved response procedures in the case of adverse-weather events.
Last month, Paul Davison's external review - commissioned by TCC - found the six deaths caused by a landslide at the Mauao campsite was avoidable, saying "this tragedy was, in the end, preventable".
The review looked at the decision-making process and the council systems in place around the time of the tragedy and is separate to other inquiries underway by the Government and by WorkSafe.
Tauranga's mayor Mahé Drysdale apologised to the families for the "failings" of the Council, and said the council accepted all of Davison's recommendations.
"Today, we acknowledge the lives lost at the holiday park. While this tragedy has had a profound and lasting impact on our community, it is those who lost their lives, and the families and friends who continue to live with that loss every day who remain at the centre of our thoughts," he said at a media conference announcing the findings.
"To each of you, I offer our deepest condolences. Thank you for your patience, for your courage, and the grace you have shown in the face of unimaginable loss."
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