A popular holiday destination in New Zealand has been turned into a disaster zone after torrential rains triggered massive landslides, killing at least two people and leaving several others missing under mountains of mud and debris.

The catastrophe struck the North Island’s Bay of Plenty region early Thursday morning, shattering the summer calm. The worst hit was the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mount Maunganui, an extinct volcano and sacred Māori site, where a hillside collapsed onto sleeping campers.

"A War Zone"

Emergency services described the scene as chaotic. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-5)At 4:50 AM (local time), a landslide smashed into a home in Welcome Bay, trapping a family inside. Rescuers worked frantically in the driving rain but recovered two bodies hours later. Two other occupants miraculously escaped with injuries.

Shortly after, at 9:30 AM, a second slip obliterated a section of the Mount Maunganui campground. Campervans were crushed like soda cans, and a shower block was flattened. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-7)"I heard a crack like thunder," said witness Alister Hardy. "Then the whole hill just came down. People were screaming, 'Get us out!'"

• The Rescue Mission: Specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams, aided by sniffer dogs, are combing through the sludge. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson confirmed that the number of missing is in the "single figures," including children, but unstable ground is hampering efforts.
• The Cause: The region received a month’s worth of rain—270mm—in just 24 hours. The unprecedented deluge is being linked to the broader climate crisis that has seen New Zealand battered by extreme weather events with increasing frequency.

National Grief

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed the nation, visibly shaken. "New Zealand is heavy with grief," he posted on X. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-9)"This is a profound tragedy. We stand with the families who have lost loved ones and those still waiting for news."

For the tight-knit community of Tauranga, the disaster is a grim reminder of nature’s fury. The "slice of paradise" that attracts thousands of tourists annually is now a crime scene of climate destruction. As night falls, the search continues under floodlights, but hope is fading with every passing hour.

“We are praying for a miracle,” said Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell. “But we must prepare for the worst.”