The remains of Morrinsville woman Lisa Anne Maclennan have been formally identified in an identification hearing.

The 50-year-old, who was the literacy centre co-ordinator at Morrinsville Intermediate, was caught in the large and significant landslide at Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park, which happened just over a week ago.

In the hearing in the Tauranga District Court, Coroner Heather McKenzie said she was satisfied that human remains recovered belonged to Maclennan.

Forensic odonotology, which focused on dental records compared with post-mortem examination, was the primary form of identification, as was DNA profiling evidence obtained from Maclennan’s children.

Coroner Heather McKenzie said she was satisfied there was “sufficient and reliable” evidence to establish the remains belonged to Maclennan.

Coroner McKenzie expressed condolences to Maclennan’s family, emphasising that “Lisa” was at the centre of the proceedings, despite the legal formalities and terminology used.

Maclennan has been lauded as a hero for her actions on the morning of the slip.

The Herald revealed she woke many holidaymakers up at 5am to warn them that the bank above the camp was deteriorating.

Maclennan is the third victim to be formally identified in the Coroner’s Court identification hearing process.

Swedish tourist Måns Loke Bernhardsson, who was 20, was identified on Thursday, and Max Furse-Kee was identified on Wednesday, on what would have been his 16th birthday.

The hearings are ongoing and form part of the Disaster Victim Identification process.

At the site of the landslide, which happened around 9.30am on January 22, recovery operations continue.

Six people went missing following the Mauao landslide, Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50; Mans Loke Bernhardsson, 20; Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71; Susan Doreen Knowles, 71; Sharon Maccanico, 15; and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB.