The mayor of Tauranga says they’ll start opening up the area around Mount Maunganui when it’s safe to do so, as police finish their recovery efforts following the deadly landslide.

All six victims of the slip that hit the Mount have been recovered and identified.

Police on Sunday stood down their operation at the Mount, and the scene is expected to be handed back to local council in the coming days.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale told RNZ the area was still dangerous.

“We need to understand how we can make that as safe as possible, what that impacts, what we can and can’t open, and as soon as we’ve done that we’ll get to work to do what we need to, to get as much of the area open as we can,” he said.

Drysdale said he was hopeful streets could be reopened in a number of days.

Drysdale said it could be a matter of months before Mauao could be reopened.

He said they would work with local iwi to assess the situation.

“We’ll be working closely with them to come up with a plan to firstly assess the damage, understand what we’re dealing with, and then put in a plan in place to get that opened up,” he said.

“But, looking at the significant damage, I think we are talking months at least until we can open that up safely.”

Drysdale said the community was still reeling from what happened.

“We’re going to be feeling this for months, if not years to come.

“However, knowing that all the bodies have been recovered, and now also identified, it does make things slightly easier knowing that the families can have some peace, knowing that their loved ones are returned.”

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale. Photo / Calvin Samuel, RNZ

Mayor offers condolences, thanks community

The mayor released a statement late on Sunday, sharing his and other councillors’ condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the slip.

“While loved ones lost in this terrible tragedy have now been returned, we will continue to offer support to the families in the years to come and have been blown away by the care they have been provided by the police family liaison team,” he said.

“We extend our profound gratitude to all the emergency workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly and with immense care to bring the missing loved ones home to their families.”

Drysdale said it had been humbling to see how hard everyone worked and came together to give the families closure.

He also acknowledged and thanked the community response to the disaster.

“In times of tragedy, the true strength of Tauranga is revealed in our unity and compassion. We will continue to support one another in the time ahead as the recovery of this tragedy and Mauao continues.”

By RNZ