What's happened
On January 22, 2026, severe landslides struck Mount Maunganui and Papamoa in New Zealand's North Island amid prolonged heavy rains from a tropical low. The disasters caused multiple fatalities, missing persons, and widespread evacuations. Emergency services continue rescue operations amid unstable conditions, with thousands affected by flooding and power outages across the region.
What's behind the headline?
Impact of Climate and Geography
The landslides in New Zealand's North Island highlight the increasing vulnerability of regions to extreme weather events intensified by climate change. The tropical low brought unprecedented rainfall, saturating already vulnerable soils and triggering deadly landslides in populated and tourist areas.
Emergency Response Challenges
Rescue efforts have been hampered by unstable ground conditions, forcing emergency crews to withdraw despite initial signs of life beneath debris. The use of sniffer dogs and heavy machinery underscores the complexity and danger of the operations.
Broader Regional Effects
Beyond the immediate disaster zones, thousands remain without power and entire towns are cut off due to flooding and road closures. The declaration of local states of emergency across multiple regions reflects the scale of the crisis.
Forecast and Future Risks
Meteorologists warn that further heavy rain on saturated ground will likely cause additional flooding and landslides, prolonging the emergency and complicating recovery efforts. This event exemplifies the urgent need for improved infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions.
Societal and Economic Consequences
The disruption to holiday destinations during peak season impacts local economies reliant on tourism. The ongoing search for missing persons and recovery of victims will have lasting social effects on communities.
Conclusion
This disaster is a stark reminder of the tangible impacts of climate change on weather extremes and the critical importance of preparedness, rapid response, and long-term planning to mitigate such events' human and economic toll.
What the papers say
The Japan Times reported the evacuation of holiday parks and the declaration of local states of emergency, noting thousands without power and floodwaters isolating towns. The Independent's Stuti Mishra detailed the landslide at Mount Maunganui, describing overturned campervans and the use of sniffer dogs in rescue efforts, with officials confirming the number of missing in the "single figures." Al Jazeera highlighted the ongoing rescue operations and the hope of finding survivors despite unstable ground, quoting Fire and Emergency Commander William Park on initial signs of life. Reuters provided context on the widespread heavy rains affecting the eastern seaboard of the North Island and road closures, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents to heed safety advice. These sources collectively paint a picture of a severe natural disaster with ongoing rescue efforts, widespread disruption, and a community grappling with the aftermath of extreme weather intensified by climate change.
How we got here
Days of torrential rain linked to a tropical low caused flooding and landslides across New Zealand's North Island. Saturated ground and record rainfall in regions like Bay of Plenty led to multiple landslides, forcing evacuations and emergency responses in popular holiday areas during the summer school holidays.
Go deeper
- What caused the landslides in New Zealand's North Island?
- How are emergency services responding to the disaster?
- What are the forecasts for further weather impacts in the region?
Common question
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More on these topics
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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Mount Maunganui is a major residential, commercial and industrial suburb of the Tauranga metropolitan area, located on a peninsula to the north-east of Tauranga's city centre.
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Queensland is a state of Australia. It is the second-largest and third-most populous Australian state. It is a federated state and a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
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Christopher Luxon is a New Zealand businessman and politician of the New Zealand National Party. He is the former chief executive officer of Air New Zealand and was elected MP for Botany in the 2020 New Zealand general election.
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David Frank Crisafulli is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2017, representing the Gold Coast-based electorate of Broadwater for the Liberal National Party.