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Government Inquiry into the Fatal Landslides in Tauranga

Public and Government Inquires

About the Inquiry

On 22 January 2026 eight people died in landslides in the Tauranga area. Two people died when a landslide struck a property in Pāpāmoa’s Welcome Bay Road and six people died several hours later when a section of Mauao collapsed on to the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

These events have caused profound grief. For the families and loved ones of those who died, the loss has been devastating and that pain has been shared by the wider Tauranga community and by people throughout New Zealand.

The Government recognises the significant public concern regarding these tragic events and acknowledges the importance for both the families and the wider community of determining exactly what happened.

Purpose of the Inquiry

The Inquiry will establish how the fatal landslides occurred, report on whether relevant agencies took appropriate steps to manage any apparent risk in the period immediately prior to the two fatal landslides, including steps to warn and evacuate people likely to be affected by the landslides, and identify any lessons that can be applied to reduce the risk of similar tragedies in future.

Those responsible for the Inquiry will communicate with the families of the victims about its progress.

Terms of Reference

Government Inquiry into the Fatal Landslides in Tauranga - 2026-go1496 | New Zealand Gazette

Members of the Inquiry

Honourable Sir Mark O’Regan will lead the Inquiry. Sir Mark is a retired Supreme Court Judge and a former President of the Court of Appeal. He will be supported by Dr Helen Anderson and Steve Symon.

Dr Helen Anderson was the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology for six years (2004-2010), prior to which she was the Chief Science Adviser. She has chaired and contributed to many reviews of technical issues such as the failure of Statistics House in the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and the Christchurch CBD collapse in 2011.

Steve Symon brings additional legal expertise to the Inquiry. He was recently the Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious, Organised Crime. His experience includes serving as a lead lawyer for WorkSafe New Zealand during the legal proceedings following the 2019 Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption.

How the Inquiry will do its work

The Inquiry will begin considering evidence on 30 March 2026.

The Inquiry will deliver a final report with recommendations by 3 December 2026.

Questions and Answers

Why is a Public Inquiry needed?

The Government recognises the significant public concern regarding these tragic events for individuals and for the wider community.

The Government is asking the inquiry to determine exactly what happened and identify any lessons that can be applied to reduce the risk of similar tragedies occurring in future.

What will the Inquiry do? 

The inquiry is directed to inquire into and report on:

  • The two fatal landslides in the Tauranga area on 22 January 2026 that occurred at Mount Maunganui (Mauao) and Welcome Bay Road, Pāpāmoa.

  • The material causes of the fatal landslides, including:
    • the topography and geology of the affected slopes and landslide runout areas,
    • the material impact of the severe storms affecting Tauranga from 15 to 22 January, and any material impact from any previous recent significant weather events and
    • any changes to vegetation cover or land use in the immediate vicinity of the landslides, which had a material impact, or significantly contributed to the landslides.
  • The knowledge relevant agencies had about landslide risk in the immediate vicinity of the fatal landslides, including any lessons learnt from previous landslides and related risks in the vicinity.

  • The nature and extent of any information available in the days and hours immediately before the fatal landslides, that could have been used to provide effective landslide warnings, including weather forecasts, storm warnings, measured rainfall information and information about local flooding and landslip events related to that rainfall.

  • Calls to emergency services, including 111 calls from members of the public, and any other warnings received from members of the public immediately prior to the fatal landslides.

  • Any physical assessments at the site of the landslides.

  • The powers and responsibilities possessed by relevant agencies and persons before the fatal landslides, including powers to warn and/or evacuate people, and how those powers and responsibilities were exercised in and around the vicinity of the two fatal landslides before the landslides occurred.

Which agencies have been identified as relevant for the purposes of this inquiry?

  • Tauranga City Council, and any other relevant local authority.
  • Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).
  • New Zealand Police.
  • The Management of the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park and the Management of the Mount Hot Pools.
  • Any other relevant individuals or entities, including landowners of the sites
  • The regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) system, including the Bay of Plenty CDEM Group, its constituent members, staff and appointed officers, and the Group and Local Controllers appointed by the Bay of Plenty CDEM Group.
  • Any other agency that had a role or responsibility in respect of the safety or welfare of persons in and around the vicinity of the fatal landslides during the period up to and including 22 January 2026.

What is the Inquiry not permitted to look at?

The inquiry is not to inquire into rescue and recovery activities after the fatal landslides.

The inquiry will not repeat the work of the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events.

The inquiry may only inquire into legislative, administrative, and policy settings to the extent that it considers such settings were a material cause of the fatal landsides that occurred at Mount Maunganui (Mauao) and Welcome Bay Road, Pāpāmoa.

In accordance with section 11 of the Inquiries Act, the inquiry has no power to determine the civil, criminal, or disciplinary liability of any person.

If the inquiry is unsure whether a matter falls within the scope of the inquiry the inquiry chairperson will refer that question to the appointing Minister, whose decision on the question will bind the inquiry.

Will the public get an opportunity to participate?

The Government does not expect the inquiry to conduct public hearings. The inquiry may do so but only if the inquiry considers public hearings to be essential to fulfil the terms of reference of the inquiry, and only if the hearings can be completed within the inquiry’s budget and timeframe.

The public is welcome to contact the inquiry via email from 30 March 2026 when the inquiry is permitted to begin considering evidence.

Will the Inquiry consider other reviews?

In the course of its work, the inquiry will consider available relevant documentation from local and central government agencies and will obtain necessary evidence from those agencies and other relevant witnesses.

If the inquiry needs to obtain evidence from overseas or to speak to overseas expert witnesses to fulfil its terms of reference, the inquiry may do so, but without travelling itself and by seeking and obtaining such evidence in writing or via video conference.

The inquiry may take account of the outcome of any other relevant investigation or review into these matters, to the extent it is relevant to the inquiry’s terms of reference but is not bound by the conclusions or recommendations of any such investigation or review.

The inquiry may consult with other agencies or entities, but only if it considers such consultation will assist it to deliver its report.

Contact the Inquiry