Recovery managers are urging the public to stay away from closed areas of Mauao after renewed landslide activity confirmed the iconic maunga remains an active and unstable environment.
Recent monitoring has detected renewed movement within the main landslide zone above the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, where six additional slip events have occurred since last weekend, including a significant movement on Friday evening. Geotechnical specialists have also identified fresh cracking and groundwater emerging from the slope, indicating the area remains highly susceptible to further landslides.
The latest activity follows the devastating January 2026 landslide that claimed six lives and triggered one of the Bay of Plenty’s largest recovery operations. Since then, engineers, iwi and local authorities have been working together to stabilise damaged areas and restore safe public access to the maunga.
Recovery Manager Charlie Rahiri said the latest movement demonstrates why recovery efforts continue to be guided by science and public safety.
Monitoring systems installed across the landslide area detected changes in slope behaviour, allowing response teams to activate established safety procedures as conditions changed. Authorities say these systems remain critical for providing early warning while geotechnical experts continue assessing the stability of the hillside.
As a result of the renewed movement, Adams Avenue will remain closed for the foreseeable future, with all existing safety cordons, barriers and restricted access areas staying in place while investigations continue. Residents and visitors are being asked to respect all closures and avoid entering hazardous areas.
Despite the setback, recovery work continues elsewhere on the maunga.
Repairs to Te Ara Tūtanga, the popular base track, are progressing as planned, while inspections have not identified significant new damage to the Motukauri summit four-wheel-drive track. Other known landslide sites across Mauao are also being monitored and are not currently showing signs of major change.
Rahiri said the renewed activity does not alter the long-term commitment to restoring access where it is safe to do so, but reinforced that reopening decisions would continue to be based entirely on specialist engineering advice.
For mana whenua, Mauao is far more than a recreational destination.
The maunga is a taonga of immense cultural, historical and spiritual significance, and recovery efforts continue to be undertaken in partnership with iwi, ensuring mātauranga Māori sits alongside scientific expertise in guiding decisions about restoration and future access.
Tauranga City Council, the Mauao Trust, Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao and specialist geotechnical advisers continue working together to develop a staged reopening plan that balances public access with long-term safety.
Council says any reopening will occur gradually, with some sections of the mountain likely to remain closed while restoration work continues in higher-risk areas. Of the 42 identified landslides across Mauao following January’s severe weather, many require significant engineering remediation rather than simple clean-up.
Officials are reminding the public that saturated ground conditions can remain unstable long after rainfall has eased and that further movement remains possible.
While the renewed slips represent another challenge in the recovery process, authorities say the monitoring systems are working as intended and continue to provide valuable information that supports informed decision-making and protects public safety.
For the community of Tauranga Moana, the recovery remains focused on restoring connections to Mauao while ensuring the wellbeing of both the maunga and the people who cherish it.
#Mauao #MountMaunganui #CharlieRahiri #NgātiRanginui #Tauranga #BayOfPlenty #Landslide #EmergencyManagement #Recovery #Kaitiakitanga #CivilDefence #Geotechnical #ClimateResilience #CommunitySafety #Māori #TeAoMāori #NaturalHazards #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews
