The review, released on Wednesday, found the council “missed several opportunities” to evacuate campers in the 24 hours before the disaster – starting from when a red heavy rain warning was issued.
Davison described the landslide as “preventable” and found the council knew of the risk to the campground, but systemic failures meant this was not appropriately managed.
His report said Sharon and Max were holidaying in Mount Maunganui with Sharon’s parents, Carmine and Natallia Maccanico.
The family had planned to stay from January 17 to 29, initially camping in a tent on the ocean side of the park.
On January 19, strong winds and forecasts of heavy rain prompted Carmine to go to the campground office and cancel their booking.
“He was encouraged by a member of the office staff to stay, saying that although the weather forecasts were bad, rather than leaving and returning home, they had the option of renting a caravan or a cabin at the campground,” Davison’s report said.
They decided to rent a caravan until the storm passed, moving into one right beside the harbour amenities block.
They stayed in the caravan on January 20 and 21, when the worst of the forecast heavy rain arrived.
By the morning of January 22, the rain had stopped, and the family planned to move to a site away from the flooded areas.
About 7am, Natallia noticed the water around their caravan had turned brown and muddy.
An hour and a half later, she filmed muddy water and gravel from the slope above the amenities block and across the driveway.
Photos at the Mount Maunganui campsite taken early on January 22 show water spilling down the hill prior to the deadly landslide. Photo / Colin McGonagle
The report recalled the blue skies that morning after the storm passed, but many campers had left or moved away from flooded areas, leaving the campground quieter than usual.
About 9.20am, Sharon and Max grabbed clean clothes and headed off to the amenities block to have showers.
Fellow camper Lisa Maclennan had also just gone in for a shower about then, and Susan Knowles, Jacqualine Wheeler and Måns Bernhardsson were also in the amenity block.
Shortly before 9.30am, a staff member heard a crack. They saw a pōhutukawa tree sweep down the block and watched the landslide strike the amenities block “like it was hit by a missile”.
The staff member ran to the slip and climbed on to the displaced roof of the building to help remove roofing iron. Another staff member called 111 and waded waist-deep into the mud, searching for people trapped in the debris.
He recalled Sharon’s mother screaming: “They’re both in there.”
The report said a distressed Carmine was on the roof, desperately searching for his daughter.
The staff member said twice the group fell silent to listen for sounds of anyone trapped by the landslide.
The first time, he was “fairly sure” he heard a muffled sound.
The second time, he heard nothing.
Emergency services searching for people in the landslide debris.
All six holidaymakers who were in or near the amenities building perished.
In a statement via police on January 30, Sharon’s parents described their daughter as “beautiful”, highly respected, and having a great sense of humour.
Natallia and Carmine said their hearts were “broken” by the loss of their daughter.
“One year ago, Sharon met the love of her life, Max. They very quickly formed a strong relationship.
“Max became a treasured part of our family, and he looked after Sharon and made her feel so special.”
Pakuranga College student couple Max Furse-Kee and Sharon Maccanico, both 15, were killed in the January 22, 2026 landslide from Mauao into the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. Photo supplied via Police
A silver-linked bracelet Sharon wore, inscribed with “Max”, also helped play a role in formally identifying her remains at a Coroner’s Court victim identification hearing.
Her dance community remembered her as a gifted performer whose talent, passion and kindness left a lasting mark.
She joined Auckland’s RGD Studio in 2022 and became a core member of its top junior hip-hop crew.
At 12, she and her crew placed ninth at the Hip Hop World Championships in Arizona.
RGD Studio director Rebecca Gray described Sharon as a “rare soul” who was “exceptionally talented”, kind and inclusive.
Sharon was born in Italy and moved to New Zealand aged 8.
The Herald understands her parents have moved back to Italy.
Auckland teens Sharon Maccanico and Max Furse-Kee attended Pakūranga College. Photo / Max Furse-Kee
In the week following the slip, Max Furse-Kee’s mother Hannah Furse released a statement via police that said the family took comfort in knowing he spent his final days with his girlfriend, whom he loved deeply.
Furse said Max was “suddenly and unimaginably taken from us”.
“He simply went to take a shower, in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.
Furse described Max as a “beautiful soul” who brought immense light, laughter and love to their lives, and she thanked those involved in the recovery effort.
He was remembered at a memorial service as a great friend who loved basketball. He was about to turn 16 and was excited about the prospect of getting his provisional driver’s licence.