Podcasts about Mount Maunganui

I can't even believe we're having to discuss this, but we are. It seems absolutely ludicrous that drunk drivers who say, kill their passengers, maim their passengers, smash their own selves up after crashing their vehicles —hopefully not into innocent victims, but sometimes it will be— are able to claim ACC, but the volunteer firefighters and the first responders who are volunteers who respond to the crash and have to deal with the horror of the aftermath, quite often they will know the people involved if it happens in a small community. If they're the ones that have to unwrap a kid from a drive shaft, they are not able to claim ACC for trauma counselling or PTSD. What they do is considered a leisure activity. Volunteers have been lobbying the Government to change the legislation for years. In 2025 a petition with 36,500 signatures was presented to Parliament but was ultimately unsuccessful. Now Land Search and Rescue are pushing the Government to reconsider, saying January's Mount Maunganui tragedy showed the level of trauma they're repeatedly exposed to with no long-term protection. So as it works at the moment, ACC can provide broad physical injury cover to volunteers, and that would be the same to you and me. Those of us who don't lift a finger to help others in our community, same sort of thing. The volunteers can access that. So if they got a physical injury and that resulted in a mental injury, that would be covered by ACC. But unlike employees, volunteers don't get any support for mental injury caused by what they see on the job. So somebody standing next to them, a paid police officer who was horrified by what they'd seen, would have access to ACC for counselling. They would not. Because what they're doing when they're saving lives and doing the most horrific clean up is a leisure activity as defined by law. ACC cannot under law right now help mentally unwell volunteer emergency responders. LandSAR Chief Executive Wendy Wright agrees the legislation falls far short when we look at the reliance we have as a country on volunteers across emergency services and search and rescue. 95% of the search and rescue workforce are volunteers. And look at the firefighters – as of 2024 there are approximately 11,800 to 12,000 volunteer firefighters in New Zealand. They make up around 80 to 85% of the country's total firefighting force. These volunteers who primarily serve the small towns, the rural areas, the outer suburbs, provide more than 820 million in annual value to the community if you want to put a dollar value on it. They basically keep communities together. They save lives within their communities. They deal with the trauma that accidents cause local communities. They are their local communities. Apparently, I've struggled to find any kind of rationale for denying them. Apparently it's going to open the floodgates for other volunteers in other in other fields. Apparently we can't afford it. Not every volunteer is going to need counselling. Not every volunteer wants to go to counselling. Not every paid employee wants it or needs it. There was a time when the UK tried to force their police officers to go to counselling. For some it was it was the last thing they needed. Their minds did not need to go over and over and over what they'd seen. They were able to compartmentalise and stay healthy. That was the way their minds worked. So they've scrapped that. You don't have to go now, but it should be an option, it should be a choice, it should be available for these incredible men and women who give up their time, give up their weekends, are willing to be roused in the middle of the night to go and try and save someone from themselves. The very least we can do when they finally get back to bed after working through the night is help them sleep soundly and not have to live with the recurring nightmares that come with PTSD that is left untreated. We owe it to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Epstein Files hog headlines worldwide as local angles emerge here. Also: more commentary on the tragedy at Mount Maunganui, the PM copping unfair criticism for his visits to the disaster zones, NZ radio stations under new Aussie ownership - and roadcone nonsense. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

While grief still hangs over Mount Maunganui following the devastating landslide, locals are keen for people to return to the area. Mount Mainstreet manager Jay Banner spoke to Corin Dann.

The deadly disaster in the north was sparked by weather which was extreme - but no longer unexpected. Media mapped out how it happened and lapses in the response, but copped criticism reporting the role of politics and climate change. Also: NBR's copyright crusade, business news in 2026 - and great sporting headlines. Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteDeath, devastation and extreme weather test media | RNZ NewsIn this episode:1:19 Reporting what went wrong and why after tragedies at Mount Maunganui and Welcome Bay in the face of misleading social media - and claims it was ‘not yet the time' to raise the role of climate change or politics.17:34 Business news on TV to make a comeback - and paid political content painting a rosy economic picture.21:05 Why NBR is confronting subscribers over-sharing content.23:30 NBR co-editor Hamish McNichol on NBR's copyright crusade, the appetite for business news and whether election year is just business as usual for the country's longest-lasting business publication.40:41 Surprise sacking of Razor Robertson sparks cutting rorts headlinesGuests: Hamish McNichol, co-editor of NBRFollow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Recovery efforts are back underway at the site of the fatal Mount Maunganui slip after they were earlier suspended when more land movement was detected. One of the six people missing has now been formally identified. A child and grandmother were also killed when a landslip hit a house in Papamoa during last weeks severe weather. The tragedies have renewed focus on the risks of land movement, so how aware are New Zealanders of the hazards they pose and what are the warning signs? Lauren Vinnell, a senior lecturer at Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The prime minister says it could take up to six months to remove masses of soil dumped on damaged roads on the East Cape from last week's storm. Christopher Luxon visited weather-hit Te Araroa and Hicks Bay by helicopter, and spoke to media at the Tai Rawhiti emergency coordination centre. Like locals, he's bracing for a long and tough road ahead. The PM's comparing the devastation in some places to 20-23's Cyclone Gabrielle. Meanwhile, work has just resumed at Mount Maunganui a week on from the deadly land-slip there. Rescue workers were pulled out of the disaster site this morning after technology that had been installed to monitor land movement was triggered and work suspended. It came ahead of a vigil tonight for a community still reeling over the deaths of six people. Kim Baker Wilson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Part of the cordon has been lifted near the site of the deadly Mt Maunganui landsip, allowing about a dozen businesses to reopen for the first time in six days. But just a few hundred metres around the corner, the recovery effort to find those buried continues - and that continues to weigh heavily on locals' hearts. Lauren Crimp reports from Mount Maunganui.

One of the victims of the deadly Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified as Max Furse-Kee. RNZ Reporter in Mount Maunganui, Lauren Crimp spoke to Corin Dann.

This morning we spoke to our reporter at Mount Maunganui for an update on the recovery mission. There's confusion over changes to rules for people travelling to the UK. We were joined by the British High Commissioner to answer some of your questions. As kids go back to school, we look at the cost of school uniforms. Plus, 2026 is looking good for Turners, is it all because of Tina? Its CEO joined us. And, we spoke to Flat White Frank, the British man who is travelling the world to find the best flat white. He's currently in New Zealand and joined us live.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Sarah Perrim-Lampp and Michael Moynahan. First up, misinformation has been circulating online about the safety of the Mount Maunganui landslide and how preventable this disaster was. But is it actually possible to guarantee safety from these events? The Panel talks to Dr Tom Robinson, a senior lecturer in disaster risk and resilience at the University of Canterbury. Then, is it time to call time on the school uniform? Journalist Gamaliel Ramos Oliver reckons so. He says uniforms are expensive and wants them gone.

Tauranga City Council's confirmed staff were working around Mount Maunganui on the morning a landslide buried six people at the campground. Surrounding cordons were reduced this morning, on day seven of work to recover those buried. A rāhui's been declared for parts of Pilot Bay and Mount Main Beach and the cordoned search area. Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the council's independent review will help narrow down which staff were in the area - and their jobs. "They were in the process of closing Mount Maunganui and putting fences up to stop the public from going into the Maunga, and that's because there were a lot of slips." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is mulling an inquiry into the events surrounding the deadly landslide that crashed down Mount Maunganui on Thursday, leaving six campers missing - presumed dead. While the recovery effort continues, questions are being asked about whether the council-owned campground should have been evacuated earlier, when the alarm was raised about other slips on the maunga. Lauren Crimp is in Mount Maunganui and filed this report.

There is a "strong case for an independent government inquiry" and families of those missing in the Mt Manuganui landslip "deserve" the facts, according to the Prime Minister. He has appointed Chris Penk to advise cabinet on the possible scope of an inquiry into the fatal disaster. Tauranga City Council is already planning to investigate but the Prime Minister said there is an inherant conflict. Newly appointment Associate Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Chris Penk spoke to Lisa Owen.

Last week, following weather warnings and torrential rain, slips across the Coromandel and  Bay of Plenty wreaked havoc, cutting off communities, damaging houses, and worst of all, taking lives. At the base of Mauoa, Mount Maunganui, a slip hit a council-owned campsite, claiming six lives and now eyes are turning towards how a tragedy like this could be prevented in future. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the world leaders offered membership on Trump's post conflict government body, the board of peace. The board has received scathing criticism for including people under investigation for war crimes and failing to have a representative voice for the Palestinian people. Luxon has, in turn, received criticism for not ruling out the invitation. Finally, the New Zealand Defence Force has begun to incorporate uncrewed vehicles and drones as it moves into a new era of increased defence spending For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wire host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about Luxons refusal to rule out joining Trump's board of peace, and the New Zealand Defence Forces incorporation of drones but began with asking him about the fatal slip in Tauranga,  

The Emergency Management Associate Minister says it's vital we understand exactly what went wrong leading up to the Mount Maunganui landslide. The Government led inquiry will investigate the events surrounding Thursday's deadly slip, where recovery of the six people missing could still take weeks. Meanwhile, it's dishing out $2.4 million to help storm-hit communities. Chris Penk told Mike Hosking it's a high stakes event, with low information and lots of emotion. He says the lessons we learn about avoiding preventable disasters won't be worth its weight in paper if we don't know what happened at Mount Maunganui. There's also an assurance that the Government's funding for storm-hit communities is just the start. About 500 people have been displaced across the North Island, nine left dead, with one still missing. The Government's funding $200 thousand to Rural Support Trusts, $1.2 million into mayoral relief funds, and $1 million into reimbursing marae helping out. Penk told Hosking the funding's on top of Government investments into flood resilience. He says it's not about just giving a small amount for this incident, it's about getting the cash flowing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Landslide experts say it was a matter of when, not if, the slope overlooking the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park failed. Speculation has swirled online about the slip, where the recovery of the six people missing could still take weeks. Canterbury University's Tom Robinson says the slip was going to happen regardless if trees had been removed from the mountain. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking misinformation doesn't help the mental health of those impacted by the disaster. He says they have to do an inquiry, but they don't want to force more mental health issues. Labour agrees there's a need to do an inquiry, with Ginny Andersen telling Hosking it's important people are able to get the answers they need. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 28th of January, the Government is set to adjust the Auckland housing plan – Chris Bishop gives a few details. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is calling for a change in the laws around media broadcasting in this country. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk MPs leaving, the Mount Maunganui tragedy, and whether they pay attention to the polls on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's considering a wider inquiry into last week's Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Six people remain missing - with recovery efforts slow faced by the unstable land, with floral tributes surrounding the cordon. Cabinet's discussing allocating funding to areas hard hit by severe weather. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell says he's spoken to Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale - but the council may still proceed with their own investigation. "Obviously, they'll have to work through their own process in terms of what they want to do, but Mahé knows that we're committed to doing a Government inquiry." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 27 January, 2026, should there be two inquiries into the Mount Maunganui landslide - one by the council, the other the Government? And is the uprooting trees at the crux of the problem there? We look at why boys are finding it harder to make friends as they get older. The fitness trends that could do you more harm than good. And on the Huddle, David Farrar and Rob Campbell dissect the latest political poll that's got Winston Peters on the up. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and AUT Chancellor Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's growing calls to phase out branded uniforms as parents grapple with rising costs. Do we need to ban uniforms altogether - or figure out an affordable solution? The Government has indicated that they want to launch their own inquiry into the Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Should this replace the one being run by Tauranga Council - or should they work together? More polls out today, and the date shows NZ First's Winston Peters is on the up. Why do we think this is? What will this mean for the election? New data shows a quarter of young men don't have any close friends - and more young people feel pessimistic about the future. What do we make of this? Should we be concerned? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As recovery work continues in Mount Maunganui, the east cape is also facing a massive clean-up. Te Araroa looks like a waste land, pocked with muddy ruts and woody debris everywhere. The small settlement, Onepoto, and Wharekahika have been hit hard. Parts of State Highway 35 around the coast remain closed or restricted. Te Araroa incident management team leader and resident Trudi Ngawhare spoke to Lisa Owen.

The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed after last week's deadly landslide. Police say the remains of some victims have been found after six people were unaccounted for following the slip at the popular campground. The Prime Minister has been on the ground in Tauranga meeting with locals in the wake of devastating storms. But questions are being raised about the responsibility of both the Council and the holiday park. Finn Blackwell has more.

A mix of cameras, drones, and human spotters are providing constant monitoring of the Mount Maunganui landslide, as recovery efforts continue. Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The RNZ-Reid Research poll surveyed one-thousand-people from January the 15th through to the 22nd; A mix of cameras, drones, and human spotters are providing constant monitoring of the Mount Maunganui landslide, as recovery efforts continue; Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report; Shifting more of our electricity use to off-peak hours could save the country up to $3 billion; Raglan will host one of the world's biggest surfing events this year, after being added as a stop on the World Surf League Championship.

The Prime Minister says today's the day the Government's preparing a support package the areas severely damaged by recent weather. Recovery efforts are in their sixth day at Mount Maunganui, where six people are still missing in the aftermath of a large landslide. Local states of emergency remain in place for the Tairawhiti regions, Whangarei, Thames Coromandel and Hauraki Districts, and the Bay of Plenty. Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking he's meeting with Cabinet this morning to discuss funding that's needed immediately. He says different areas need different support, and they will spend whatever they need to. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns about how many investigations will be held into Mount Maunganui's deadly landslide, with six people still buried and careful recovery work continuing. WorkSafe will look into organisations with a duty of care at the holiday park, the Council's reviewing events beforehand, and Fire and Emergency could launch a probe. The Institute of Safety Management's Mike Cosman says police will investigate on behalf of the Coroner, and could do so in their own right too. He says others may also be looking deeper. "One of my concerns here is that when you've got multiple simultaneous investigations going on - is witnesses, whanau, first responders having to retell their stories multiple times to multiple different agencies. It can be incredibly traumatic." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of Mount Maunganui's Mauao is unclear, as efforts to recover six people buried in a landslide continue. Iwi leaders say they are yet to have a hui to discuss what the long term plan is. Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui historian Buddy Mikaere says a rahui is being placed on it now, and there does need to be a rest - which should be taken advantage of. "Have a proper review of the entire Maunga, the track system, to see where likely hazards might be, and to note those and put in place actions that might prevent this from happening again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 26 January, 2026, we explore how long Mount Maunganui's likely to remain off-limits in the wake of the landslide. Interim New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Lancaster gives us details of the search for the next All Blacks coach. An entrepreneur outlines how he'd give Auckland's CBD a makeover. And on The Huddle, Phil Goff and Trish Sherson have harsh words for Donald Trump's criticism of allied efforts, including New Zealand, in Afghanistan. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for six people confirmed missing in the landslide has resumed. 

The search for six people unaccounted for after a landslide hit a campground at the base of Mount Maunganui has been put on hold due to the risk of further slips. Nick James reports.

NZ First leader Winston Peters is questioning whether New Zealand should continue to fund the World Health Organisation; Travel agents are worried British-New Zealand dual nationals may get turned away at the airport or UK border when new passport rules come into force; Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Morning Report; Rescue crews have halted recovery efforts at the Mount Maunganui landslide overnight after workers spotted potential instability in the slip; Economists say it might be time to recalibrate our expectations for inflation and interest rates following higher-than-expected inflation figures on Friday.

Recovery work at the scene of the Mount Maunganui landslide has been halted after a crack was seen on the hillside. RNZ Reporter Lauren Crimp is in Mount Maunganui and spoke to Corin Dann.

Rescue crews have halted recovery efforts at the Mount Maunganui landslide overnight after workers spotted potential instability in the slip. Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tauranga's Mayor says they're hopeful recovery work can resume today, after Thursday's slip at Mount Maunganui. Six people remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead. Recovery work was paused yesterday after a crack was found on the maunga, making the site unsafe. Tauranga City Council has ordered an independent review into the slip - and what happened leading up to it. Mahe Drysdale says specialist equipment was flown in from Wellington last night - to help with recovery operations. He says geotechnical engineers are up Mount Maunganui at the moment - to ensure it's safe for work to continue today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 25 January 2026, search crews are into their fourth day of the recovery operation at Mount Maunganui, head of the police search team Senior Constable Barry Shepherd shares insights into the complex search. Kiwi Samoan screen legends Nathaniel Lees and Oscar Kightley are bringing the inspiring story of Pati Umaga to life on stage, they join Francesca to talk about Pati and why the project is so special to them. Black Foils strategist Liv Mackay on what it was like on the Sail GP boat when it collided with the Swiss team in Perth last week, and will their boat be ready for the Auckland event in three weeks. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recovery efforts are continuing at the Mount Maunganui landslide as families and friends of the six missing victims grieve their loved ones. Those still missing include two Pakuranga College students, two 71-year-old friends from Rotorua, a Morrinsville school tutor, and a Swedish tourist. The operation has now switched from rescue to recovery. NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah, who's been in Mount Maunganui, says emergency crews are now moving to what's known as a 'de-layering' exercise. "This is where they are taking tonnes of debris and they are moving it to one side and they are meticulously going through this, looking for human remains." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for those unaccounted for in the Mount Maunganui landslide has entered its fourth day - although now the operation is in a recovery phase. Six people are unaccounted for after a large slip swept through the Beachside Holiday Park at the base of the mountain. They include two Pakuranga College students who are aged 15, two 71-year-old friends from Rotorua, a 50-year-old Morrinsville school tutor, and a 20-year-old Swedish tourist. Police say it's highly unlikely any of the six are alive, and some human remains have been found at the site. The council says there will be an independent review into how the disaster happened and what decisions were made. Police Senior Constable Barry Shepherd, who is leading the search for police, says it's a huge operation. "There's a lot of dirt, a lot of mud, and there's some people in there somewhere. And we are desperately looking for them, it's a big job." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police says authorities will be working through the night and tomorrow - to find people trapped after a slip slammed into Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park. Six people are unaccounted for, including two teenagers, after it tore through tents, cars, caravans, a toilet block and the hot pools around 9.30am yesterday. NZ Herald Senior Journalist Michael Morrah told Ryan Bridge that there are 6 people confirmed to be trapped under the landslide, with another 3 people still yet to be accounted for. He said that the police are currently going through the list of all the people who may have checked into the campground, and are making sure that they have left the campsite and are accounted for. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's less than a month to my son's first birthday and whenever anyone asks me about my experience of becoming a father, I feel like I have nothing new to offer tens of thousands of years of established observations and discourse. “I just feel,” I say. “Like all the cliches are true. The intensity of the love. The joy. The exhaustion. It's all true!” But one of the things I've come to appreciate more is the difference between theory versus experience. There's stuff I knew about parenting. I understood the theory. But it has taken experiencing it to properly get it, to appreciate it in my marrow. Case in point: newborn babies almost never look very good. They're always a bit squished or alien, a bit like a bald marsupial. And yet, when you're a new parent, you're sure that your baby is different. Perfect and symmetrical and gorgeous in every way. I knew this before we had our son. I had observed the phenomenon in close friends. And yet when our boy arrived, I was convinced. ‘He really is gorgeous. I know it's a thing. I know new parents get new parent goggles. But this is different!' I thought. I look back now, and I've sobered up a bit. In the photos he looks like a newborn. It took experiencing that to properly get it. I'd love this to be a funny little story but sadly it's not. I just wanted to use the point to illustrate something else. Before having our boy, other parents told me how having a child changed they felt when they heard about accidents or tragedies affecting children in the news. I could understand it, but I couldn't understand it if you know what I mean. This last year, I've really noticed the change – for someone who's worked in news all his life, it's quite something. This morning, I just cannot stop thinking of the poor families at Mt Maunganui, especially the parents of the young people who are still missing. Could there be a more iconic Kiwi campground? A happier summer spot? The response effort is ongoing. But the thought of those families enjoying a summer holiday and all of the joy that brings, the ice creams and the card games and the memories... and for that to end in a moment, in a freak accident, like this... it's just hideous. This really isn't about me. It's just to say that after Mt Maunganui, I couldn't help but think a lot about my own boys and just imagine how awful these days and this waiting will have been for those poor families whose kids are missing. It's another dimension to parenting I had to experience to fully understand. I love my boys so intensely, but we all know there's nothing any of us can do to fully protect anyone in this world. Some things are left up to chance and luck. And freak accidents happen. I just hope the poor families at the centre of this have every last bit of support that will possibly help them in any way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A large insurance bill is looming from the latest weather-related disasters. The landslide at Mount Maunganui combined with flood damage in Northland, Coromandel and Gisborne means that the claims are set to roll in. Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens told Ryan Bridge that people affected can expect delays given the high number of claims being made. "I think everybody understands that with a significant weather event, there are going to be more delays than if it's just business as usual." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emergency crews have been working through the night searching for people missing after a landslide at Mount Maunganui; Emergency teams have been searching overnight for several people trapped under a landslide at Mount Maunganui; Very young children with cystic fibrosis could soon access funded medicines with the potential to add decades to their lives. Christchurch couple Edward and Emily Harrington-Ashton's 20 month-old- son, Noah, has cystic fibrosis. They say the drug will be life changing for their son; Politicians will this morning be travelling Ratana Pa south of Whanganui for the annual celebrations, which traditionally mark the start of the political year; From curling to cross country skiing and bobsleighing - the 25th Winter Olympics are nearly upon us.

Rescue crews have been working through the night in Mount Maunganui to try to free those trapped by a landslide. Reporter Kim Baker Wilson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green from Tauranga.

Emergency teams have been searching overnight for several people trapped under a landslide at Mount Maunganui. Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Emergency crews have been working through the night searching for people missing after a landslide at Mount Maunganui. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell spoke to Lauren Crimp.

Destruction and tragedy have come in the wake of slips caused by record rainfall in the upper North Island. Police have confirmed two bodies have been found following an early morning landslide on Pāpāmoa's Welcome Bay Road. As well, a man is still missing after being swept away by the Mahurangi River north of Warkworth on Wednesday. Hundreds of homes remain without power and there's widespread closures on the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne District on State Highways 2, 25 and 35. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking unfortunately tragedies like this happen with the amount of rain we received. He says the ground loses its ability to soak up any more water, which is why slips have been so widespread across the eastern seaboard. Rescuers at the base of Mount Maunganui have been working through the night and into the morning to find campers buried by a landslide. A source has told the Herald there could be up to nine people unaccounted for —including children— after the hill gave way and smashed through a popular campsite and hot pools. Mitchell told Hosking there's no timeline for how rescue efforts will unfold. He says a lot of earth has come down and destroyed buildings, campervans, and caravans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 23rd of January, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell provides an update on the slip in Mount Maunganui and the recovery efforts. ACC has a plan to turn around its multibillion-dollar debt, and it seems to be bearing fruit. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson are back to Wrap the Week for the very first time in 2026. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities haven't tied down exact numbers of people missing, after the land gave way at Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park. The landslide took out tents, cars, caravans, a toilet block, and the hot pools about 9.30am this morning. The total unaccounted for is in single digits - including young people - with searchers including dog teams carefully probing the site. The nearby Surf Club being used as an emergency hub has now been evacuated as a precaution. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell says geo-scientists are worried the Mount could slip again. He says police are still working out who was at the park today. "It's a matter of now going back, checking CCTV, camera footage and just working that out and just trying to get a very clear picture of who might have been impacted." Meanwhile, two people are still missing after a slip on Tauranga's Welcome Bay Road. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A witness has described a loud cracking sound as a massive landslide slumped across Mount Maunganui's Beachside Holiday Park this morning, taking out tents, caravans, and a toilet block - and hitting the hot pool. Searches have continued all day - and fewer than 10 people remain unaccounted for, including young people. Evacuees from the park gathered at the local surf club have now been moved, out of concerns the land could move again. Officials say they won't stop looking until everyone is found, after pausing briefly this morning due to unstable ground. Witness Nix Jaques was there. She says a frantic man and woman told her two loved ones were stuck in the shower block. "They were trying to move into that space, so it was trying to fade and then come away." NZ Herald reporter Michael Morrah was also on the scene and he says search and rescue teams are still working to recover the missing people. "It is a huge task, as there is just tonnes and tonnes of dirt and debris that is covering the campsite at the moment." Two people also remain unaccounted for since a slip overnight near houses in Tauranga's Welcome Bay. Police are encouraging people worried about someone they can't get in touch with in the Bay of Plenty to contact them immediately on 105. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery live on the ground at the tragic landslide at Mount Maunganui.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister discusses the tragedy unfolding at Mount Maunganui and the election date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.