The mother of one of the 15-year-olds trapped under the Mount Maunganui landslide has remembered her son as a "kind and beautiful" person.
Max Furse-Kee was one of six people who remained unaccounted-for for, believed to have been killed, after Thursday's landslide.
"From the moment I first looked at his beautiful blue eyes almost 16 years ago he had my whole heart, he was my sunshine," Max's mum said in a statement on behalf of the family, released by local police.
"Life without Max is impossible to imagine. In truth, all of this feels impossible to imagine. We are endlessly proud of who he is and that he is ours."
She added that this week he would have been turning 16.
"Just days ago, my biggest fear was him getting his driver's licence. How I wish now that he could have experienced the joy of driving, and so many other moments that growing up brings," she said.
"We also want to sincerely thank the entire team working at Mauao. We have been cared for with extraordinary kindness, compassion, and humanity."
After a long, wet week, this weekend on the east coast of New Zealand's north island began with sunshine and the last wisps of hope that a miracle might still occur.
Locals and visitors alike came to lay flowers, pay their respects, and pray as they looked towards the mountain that on Thursday came crashing down over a popular campsite, trapping six people.
But a forecast of rain, strong winds and even hail felt like an omen of the news that was to come.
After two days of holding out hope despite all the odds, the local police superintendent had the heart-wrenching job of announcing that no one trapped by the landslide at Mount Maunganui could have survived.
Rescue crews had worked nonstop, including through the night, since Thursday.
Overnight, they found human remains, and by Saturday's end, New Zealand Police released the names of the six people believed to have been killed, buried under many tonnes of dirt, trees and debris that wiped out caravans and an amenities block.
After two days of holding out hope despite all the odds, the local police superintendent had the heart-wrenching job of announcing that no one trapped by the landslide at Mount Maunganui could have survived.
Rescue crews had worked nonstop, including through the night, since Thursday.
Overnight, they found human remains, and by Saturday's end, New Zealand Police released the names of the six people believed to have been killed, buried under many tonnes of dirt, trees and debris that wiped out caravans and an amenities block.
"Search teams, supported by contractors and machinery, are continuing to work through the debris, towards the amenities block," Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said.
"From what we have seen, the building suffered catastrophic damage and we are confronted with the reality that it is highly unlikely anyone would have been able to survive."
Another victim, Lisa Maclennan, 50, was honoured by the school at which she worked.
"Lisa Maclennan (our amazing Literacy Centre tutor), is one of the people trapped in the landslide at Mount Maunganui," Morrinsville Intermediate School posted on its Facebook page.
"We continue to hope and pray for Lisa. Our love and aroha go out to Lisa's family."
Original story link https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-25/nz-landslide-victims-unlikely-to-survive-police-say/106265934
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