COMMUNITY IN MOURNING: New Zealand Landslide Victims Remembered at Sunset Vigil Near Mt Maunganui
In a poignant display of solidarity and grief, more than 100 members of the Mount Maunganui community gathered at a local park for a sunset vigil on January 25, 2026, to honor the six lives lost in a devastating landslide that struck a popular campground at the base of Mt Maunganui (also known as Mauao) earlier that week.
The tragedy unfolded on the morning of Thursday, January 22, 2026, when heavy rainfall—part of widespread severe storms battering New Zealand’s North Island—triggered a massive landslip that crashed down over the campsite. What began as an urgent rescue operation involving emergency services quickly turned somber. Over the weekend, authorities shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery mode after human remains were discovered, with police confirming that the six missing individuals were unlikely to have survived.
Police have released the names of the victims:
Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, from Morrinsville, a literacy coordinator described in tributes as dedicated and kind.
Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, a Swedish national.
Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua.
Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, also from Rotorua (Ngongotahā area), remembered as part of a close-knit group.
Sharon Maccanico, 15, a student at Pakūranga College.
Max Furse-Kee, 15, also a Pakūranga College student; his mother paid a heartfelt tribute, calling him a “beautiful kind boy” whose loss has left a profound void.
The two teenagers attended the same Auckland-area college, adding a layer of shared sorrow among school communities and families.
Recovery efforts at the site have been challenging and intermittent, suspended several times due to ongoing bad weather and safety concerns. Authorities prioritized the well-being of more than 30 workers on the scene at any given time, halting operations to avoid further risks or loss of life amid unstable conditions.
At the vigil, held as the sun set over the Bay of Plenty, attendees came together to remember the victims not just as names in the news, but as cherished members of the wider community. Speakers and participants emphasized a message of enduring support: the families of those lost will “always be part of the family and the community here.” The event provided a space for collective healing in a town still reeling from the weekend’s grim announcements, where the scale of the disaster has deeply affected residents.
This landslide is part of a broader series of slips and flooding across the Bay of Plenty region during the January 2026 storms, including incidents in nearby Papamoa and other suburbs. It serves as a stark reminder of New Zealand’s vulnerability to landslides—one of the country’s deadliest natural hazards—exacerbated by intense rainfall events.
As Mount Maunganui and surrounding areas begin the long process of recovery and remembrance, the sunset vigil stands as a touching symbol of unity in the face of unimaginable loss. The community’s focus remains on supporting the bereaved families and honoring the lives cut short too soon.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this heartbreaking event.
