A somber identification hearing at Tauranga District Court on January 28, 2026, formally confirmed the identity of one of the six victims lost in the catastrophic landslide at Mount Maunganui’s Beachside Holiday Park. Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley declared 15-year-old Max Furse-Kee as the deceased after reviewing evidence presented by Senior Constable Robert Stokes of the Disaster Victim Identification team. The hearing came on what would have been Max’s 16th birthday—a cruel twist that amplified the grief already gripping his family, friends, school community, and the wider Tauranga region.

The landslide struck early Thursday morning, January 23, triggered by relentless heavy rains that battered the North Island. A massive slip of earth, rock, and debris crashed through the popular campground nestled at the base of Mauao (Mount Maunganui), burying tents, campervans, and holidaymakers in its path. Six people perished: Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50; Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20; Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71; Susan Doreen Knowles, 71; Sharon Maccanico, 15; and Max Furse-Kee, 15. Max and Sharon, both students at Pakūranga College in Auckland, were on a summer holiday together with family when the disaster unfolded.

Max’s body was recovered on Monday, January 26, allowing forensic dental examination to confirm his identity definitively. Stokes detailed the specialist work involving police, forensic pathologists, odontologists, and other experts that culminated in the court’s finding. Windley expressed confidence in the evidence’s reliability, noting the complexities of victim identification in mass disasters while extending condolences to Max’s whānau and friends for their loss in “unimaginable circumstances.” With identification complete, his body was released to the family for final arrangements.

Tributes poured in immediately after Max was first named among the missing on January 25. His mother, Hannah Furse, released a statement describing him as an “incredible, kind and beautiful human being” whose love was “impossible to explain.” She wrote that from the moment she saw his blue eyes nearly 16 years ago, “he had my whole heart, he was my sunshine.” Max was a devoted big brother, grandson, nephew, friend, teammate, and boyfriend—deeply loved and bringing joy, laughter, and light daily. Hannah lamented the sudden, complete change to their lives: fears once centered on him getting his driver’s license now replaced by unimaginable absence. “We are endlessly proud of who he is and that he is ours.”

Family members shared poignant memories. Uncle Puvi Nadason posted a moving birthday tribute, calling Max his “safe space, my best mate,” and the reason he became a dad. Puvi said Max taught him love, patience, and kindness, describing him as the glue holding the family together. Aunty and others echoed the sentiment of a joyful teen whose presence shaped those around him. At Pakūranga College, principal and staff mourned two students lost—Max and Sharon—highlighting the profound impact on the school community. Max was remembered as a talented basketball player who won junior player of the year, a keen sportsman who embodied kindness and light.

The landslide’s scale and suddenness stunned New Zealand. Heavy rains caused widespread flooding, slips, road closures, and power outages across the North Island, but the Mauao event proved most tragic. Screams pierced the night as the slip hit the campground; one camper reported raising alarms hours earlier, including a call to police referencing a potential landslip. Police clarified they did not attend due to unclear details about property damage. A separate slip at Welcome Bay claimed two more lives, underscoring the storm’s devastation.

Recovery efforts shifted from rescue to recovery as conditions proved too dangerous for survival. Heavy machinery, specialist teams, and police worked amid unstable terrain. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited the site and attended a community vigil, describing a “solemnness, sadness, and heaviness” in Mount Maunganui. He praised community support in clearing debris elsewhere. Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale confirmed council staff were present when the slip occurred, while emergency controller Tom McEntyre noted risks to life and property. Police sought footage and images of the area pre- and post-slip via an online portal to aid investigation.

WorkSafe announced reviews of duty-of-care responsibilities at the campground, though prioritizing recovery. Tauranga City Council planned an independent inquiry, supported by the prime minister. Broader questions arose about warnings—documents showed officials advised against building in potential slip zones over 20 years ago—and response to earlier signs of instability.

Vigils and memorials grew at the site and beyond. Flowers, kai, and messages of support accumulated, with donors contributing to tributes. The community mourned not just lives lost but the interruption of summer holidays at a cherished spot—Mauao holds deep cultural significance for Māori and special memories for many families.

Max’s story, tied to this tragedy, resonates as a reminder of fragility amid natural forces. His milestone birthday became a day of formal farewell rather than celebration. Family, schoolmates, and friends hold onto memories of a teen full of light, kindness, and promise—gone too soon in circumstances that continue to prompt reflection on preparedness, response, and the human cost of extreme weather.