Freedom camping problems 'far less frequent'

A Waikato man and his daughter escaped the deadly Mount Maunganui campground landslide after being alerted by teacher Lisa Maclennan. Maclennan, who perished in the disaster on January 25, 2026, woke multiple campers before the landslide hit.

Six people are unaccounted for following a landslide at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park in New Zealand. A Rotorua grandmother and a 15-year-old Italian girl are believed to be among the missing. The operation has shifted from rescue to recovery.

Another collision occurred at a low railway bridge in Tinwald, New Zealand, where a camper van had its roof sheared off. The bridge, with a clearance of 2.39 meters, is officially classified as the most struck in the country and had reopened just a month prior after repairs. Local authorities plan to add more warning signs and road markings, while social media debates a full road closure.

A landslide on New Zealand's North Island buried part of a campsite on Thursday. Rescue teams are searching for at least six missing people who were in the motorhomes.

The rescue operation at the Mount Maunganui campground hit by a landslide could take days to complete. The landslide, which occurred around 9:30 AM on Thursday, destroyed the site's toilet and shower block and crushed campervans. Police report multiple people missing, with the exact number still being determined.

A landslide triggered by record rainfall struck the Beachside Holiday Park at Mount Maunganui, burying motorhomes and facilities. Rescue teams with dogs are searching for an unspecified number of missing people. The search operation is continuing through the night.