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\nOne week on, people reflect at a memorial site for the six people who died in a landslide at Mount Maunganui.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n
Police have officially stood down all recovery operations at Mount Maunganui, following a fatal landslide last month.<\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and Search and Rescue teams had stopped all work, and would leave the scene.<\/p>\n
“The families were notified of this update yesterday evening. This completes the recovery operation.<\/p>\n
“While police will no longer be working at the scene, technology remains in place to monitor any land movements.”<\/p>\n
Cordons still in place<\/p>\n
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\nThe cordon at Mount Maunganui after the landslide was covered in tributes for the people who lost their lives.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Lauren Crimp\n<\/p>\n
Cordons remain in place around Adams Avenue, The Mall and Marine Parade.<\/p>\n
Anderson said police would work with council and geotechnical experts to determine when it was safe to reduce the cordons.<\/p>\n
“These remain in place for the safety of those who remain on the site, but also for the safety of the public.<\/p>\n
“We expect to formally hand the scene over to Tauranga City Council in the coming days.”<\/p>\n
Next steps<\/p>\n
Police have said they would now support any subsequent coronial inquest into the tragedy.<\/p>\n
WorkSafe continues to scope its involvement in the next phase of the response.<\/p>\n
Police have signed an operational protocol for information-sharing with WorkSafe New Zealand to avoid duplication of efforts and to facilitate the next stage of inquiries.<\/p>\n
“Police will be formally speaking to witnesses and gathering as much information that we can to assist WorkSafe,” Anderson said.<\/p>\n
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\nPolice District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson.
\nPhoto: RNZ\n<\/p>\n
“A number of police staff from around the country will be assisting with this next phase of work.”<\/p>\n
WorkSafe’s role would be to look into those organisations with a duty of care for people at the holiday park, and whether they met their work health and safety responsibilities.<\/p>\n
All six victims formally identified<\/p>\n
Superintendent Anderson said, as of Saturday night, all six victims had been formally identified.<\/p>\n
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\nThe six victims of the Mt Maunganui landslide – M\u00e5ns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Lisa Maclennan, 50, Susan Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, Max Furse-Kee, 15, Jacqualine Wheeler, 71 and Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
“We are very relieved for the families that all their loved ones have now been returned to them.<\/p>\n
“The last 11 days have been extremely difficult for them, waiting for their loved ones to be found and returned to them.”<\/p>\n
Police would continue to provide ongoing wraparound support to the families of the victims.<\/p>\n
“While we cannot take the pain away, we hope that being re-united with their loved ones can help give them some closure.<\/p>\n
“Our family liaison officers have put in an immense amount of work to support these grieving families.<\/p>\n
“I could not be more impressed by them in regard to their compassion, dedication and professionalism.”<\/p>\n
Hundreds from different regions helped with operation<\/p>\n
Anderson commended all agencies involved for their assistance during a difficult operation.<\/p>\n
“On reflection, it has been a privilege to work alongside our colleagues, partners and volunteers for a common purpose.<\/p>\n
“We have united to bring the families some form of closure out of this absolute tragedy.”<\/p>\n
Police have utilised hundreds of staff from across several regions, including specialist staff over the course of this operation.<\/p>\n
“At the peak of our operations, close to 100 police staff were assisting on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
“We all had one goal and that was to re-unite families with their loved ones, but also to support these families through what has been an incredibly difficult time.<\/p>\n
“I’m immensely proud of every single person who has worked tirelessly on this operation.”<\/p>\n
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\nA community vigil was held at Tauranga to honour those missing and the lives lost following the Mount landslide.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Kim Baker Wilson\n<\/p>\n