“The risks of injury or fatality from slope failures to sleeping persons in fragile accommodation (tents/caravans) is quite high, and the owners/operators of such facilities would have a duty of care to ensure their safety.”
A 2006 rockfall and landslide risk report from Avalon Industrial Services said an 8000-cubic-metre slip above the campground, in the area where the January slip occurred, had a risk of killing 21 people.
The January landslide involved about 12,000cu m of earth.
Tauranga City Council formally accepted the findings and 10 recommendations of Davison’s review on September 1.
Chief executive Marty Grenfell told a council meeting that it accepted them “without qualification” and was committed to implementing every recommendation.
The red markings indicate the sites of historical mass slips. The image was included in a 2005 report to Tauranga City Council warning of landslide risks.
New Zealand Motor Caravan Association national manager James Imlach said the landslide was a reminder that risk management was an ongoing responsibility.
The association operates 66 private parks and three public campgrounds nationwide.
“Operators have a duty to adopt appropriate safety measures and respond when new information indicates those measures should be reviewed.”
Imlach said member safety was a key priority.
“We have processes in place to assess risks, implement site-specific safety and emergency procedures where appropriate, provide safety information to members, and proactively respond to developing issues such as severe weather events.”
Those processes had resulted in precautionary park evacuations. The association had also notified members travelling nearby to avoid affected sites for safety.
“We also review and update our procedures as circumstances change and new information and tools become available.
“Most people understand that natural hazards exist throughout New Zealand, but they also expect campgrounds to take reasonable steps to provide safe places to stay.”
The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association has processes for assessing risk at its campgrounds.
Imlach said the landslide reinforced the importance of vigilance and ongoing risk management.
He said, at this stage, demand for motorhoming or camping had not been affected.
The Department of Conservation manages more than 300 campsites nationwide. Eamonn Whitham, its acting director for visitors and heritage, said many campsites were in natural or remote environments.
“Natural hazards are an inherent feature of some of these places, and managing risk to visitors is an important part of how we operate our sites.”
DoC assessed and managed risks using local knowledge, previous events, inspections and specialist advice.
“Where a hazard is identified, the response will depend on the nature and level of risk and can include monitoring, warning signs, and visitor information, restricting access, carrying out physical works, or temporarily or permanently closing a site.”
Whitham said sites could be reassessed after weather or natural hazard events, or when new information about a potential hazard became available.
DoC was considering lessons from Tauranga City Council’s review alongside its existing approach to managing visitor safety and natural hazards.
“It is too early to determine whether the Mauao landslide or subsequent review will have any effect on visitor numbers at DoC campsites.”
A DoC camping ground at Uretiti Beach, Bream Bay. Photo / NZME
Whitman said DoC would not speculate on potential economic impacts for the wider camping and holiday park sector.
“DoC campsites will continue to operate in line with our existing visitor safety and risk-management processes.
“Visitors should check current alerts and conditions before travelling and follow any safety information or restrictions in place at individual sites.”
Holiday Parks New Zealand said its member parks were independently owned and operated, with health and safety responsibilities.
“Across our industry, we regularly share best practice through resources, guidance and events.
“We take the responsibility of hazard management across the sector seriously and will continue to support operators in this space.”
Tasman Holiday Parks and Top 10 Holiday Parks were both approached for comment.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.