TCC owns and operates the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park at the base of Mauao.<\/p>\n
Erika Harvey is critical of the costs associated with Tauranga City Council’s review into the deadly January 22 landslide.<\/p>\n
The Government\u2019s inquiry<\/a> is being led by retired Supreme Court judge and former Court of Appeal president Sir Mark O\u2019Regan, supported by Dr Helen Anderson and lawyer Steve Symon<\/a>. <\/p>\n It began considering evidence on March 30 and must deliver its final report by December 3.<\/p>\n Mayor Mahe Drysdale defended the TCC review, calling it \u201cnecessary and worthwhile\u201d because it had delivered fast answers \u2013 just seven months after the tragedy.<\/p>\n \u201cThat clarity enables TCC to begin implementing the recommendations within weeks of the report being publicly released and months before other inquiries and investigations are expected to be completed\u201d.<\/p>\n The TCC confirmed Drysdale and his fellow councillors determined the scope of Davison\u2019s review: to examine what TCC knew about the land where the landslide occurred and whether it took appropriate action to manage risks. <\/p>\n He was asked to make recommendations about TCC\u2019s governance and decision making, but determining civil, criminal or disciplinary liability of any person was outside his scope.<\/p>\n Harvey told the Herald she was concerned the review \u2013 which stopped short of attributing failures to individuals \u2013 could influence future inquiries.<\/p>\n \u201cCould that sculpt the narrative for the other reviews?,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Department of Internal Affairs\u2019 (DIA) website said the Government\u2019s inquiry \u201cwill not be bound\u201d by the TCC review.<\/p>\n Like Davison\u2019s review, the Government inquiry won\u2019t determine personal, criminal or civil liability.<\/p>\n DIA said it \u201cmay make findings of fault\u201d and the investigation will include examining the powers and responsibilities of \u201crelevant agencies and persons\u201d. <\/p>\n The DIA\u2019s terms of reference said the inquiry may recommend further steps are taken to determine liability. <\/p>\n The bill for Davison\u2019s review<\/p>\n Of the total report cost, more than $31,000 went to geotechnical experts who assisted Davison, with $68,625 going to Davison\u2019s legal assistant.<\/p>\n Just over $10,000 was spent transcribing recordings, and printing and formatting the report cost $7522.50. <\/p>\n Professor Maan Alkaisi<\/a>, whose wife died in the CTV building collapse during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, wanted to see personal accountability over the Mount Maunganui landslide.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to question, is it [the TCC review] worth it if you\u2019re not going to take any action?\u201d Alkaisi said.<\/p>\n Given there were known risks with the design of the CTV building, Alkaisi believed there were parallels with the council\u2019s inaction over landslide risks.<\/p>\n While not pushing for individuals to be jailed, he emphasised the importance of personal responsibility so other officials were put on notice.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has to be somebody held to account so that others will actually take things seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Davison\u2019s review found the TCC knew of the landslide risk at the Mount Maunganui campground for more than two decades, and concluded the deaths of six people could have been avoided.<\/p>\n As far back as 1999, experts warned of a risk to life, with the most recent red flags documented in a June 2025 report from engineering consultancy HD Geo.<\/p>\n Davison blamed entrenched organisational failures at the TCC, finding that no one took responsibility for the risks, concerns were not escalated, and expert recommendations were essentially ignored.<\/p>\n Total costs to the council from the landslide will be much higher than the Davison review, after it engaged four legal firms<\/a> to respond to formal inquiries into the tragedy.<\/p>\n Separately, millions of dollars have been spent responding to the emergency, including costs associated with earthworks and security<\/a>, and on the wider recovery.<\/p>\nThe Mount Maunganui landslide review cost Tauranga council more than $519,000. Photo \/ Herald graphic.<\/p>\n
Tauranga City Council spent more than half a million dollars on a report into the Mount Maunganui Landslide, figures released to the Herald reveal.<\/p>\n
Former High Court Judge Paul Davison KC. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n