At a Glance
- Two victims of the deadly landslides, 10-year-old Austen Keith Richardson and 71-year-old grandmother Yao Fang, were confirmed dead.
- The landslides struck homes and a campsite on Jan. 22 in the Mount Maunganui area.
- Six people remain missing after a second landslide hit a nearby campsite.
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights the danger of landslides in popular tourist destinations and the ongoing search for missing residents.
Introduction
The death of 10-year-old Austen Keith Richardson and his grandmother, 71-year-old Yao Fang, was confirmed by New Zealand Police on Jan. 27 following a landslide that struck homes on Jan. 22 in the Mount Maunganui area. A second landslide hit a campsite nearby, leaving six people missing and prompting a nationwide search effort.
Victims Identified
New Zealand Police released a news statement confirming the identities of the two deceased. Austen, who was in a property on Welcome Bay Rd in Pāpāmoa, and his grandmother, who lived nearby, were the only occupants of the damaged residence. Their deaths have been referred to the coroner.
Family Statements
The family released a statement that highlighted the close bond between Austen and his grandmother. “Austen and his grandmother had an incredibly close relationship – with Austen affectionately calling her Nai Nai,” the family said.
About Austen
- 10-year-old
- Only child of Keith and Angel
- Born in Shanghai, China, and moved to New Zealand 8 months before the disaster
- Attended Arataki School, thriving in a Montessori class
- Accepted to Bethlehem College and due to start Year 7 soon
- Gifted musician, enjoyed piano, building Lego, riding motorbikes, Pokémon, and solving math equations
- Visited the Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival the weekend before the tragedy
- Spoke fluent Mandarin and enjoyed family trips to China
About Yao Fang
- 71-year-old
- Worked as an architect in China while raising Angel as a solo parent
- Loved nature in New Zealand, helped grow a vegetable garden, and cared for chickens
- Attended Chinese Methodist Church in Greerton
- Described by family as beautiful, caring, generous, and self-less
The family expressed gratitude for the support received from community, emergency services, and support agencies. They added, “We are absolutely devastated by the loss of our treasured son and his beloved Nai Nai,” and extended their thoughts to other families affected by the tragedy.
Missing Persons and Search Efforts
A separate landslide hit a campsite at a popular tourist hotspot on Jan. 22. The following individuals were reported missing:
| Name | Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Maccanico | 15 | Teenager |
| Max Furse-Kee | 15 | Teenager |
| Lisa Maclennan | 50 | Longtime friend |
| Jacqualine Wheeler | 71 | Longtime friend |
| Susan Knowles | 71 | Longtime friend |
| Måns Loke Bernhardsson | 20 | Swedish national |
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson announced that the operation had moved into a recovery phase. “Search teams have been working through the slip layer by layer, but tragically it is now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive,” Anderson said. He added, “We informed the families of this news this morning … They are going through something very few people could understand, and we ask that they be given space to grieve.”
Human remains were found on Friday, and formal identification is now underway. Search efforts paused on Sunday due to unstable conditions but resumed later in the week.
Recovery Operations
On Monday, Jan. 26, New Zealand Police announced that recovery efforts had resumed following advice from two independent geotechnical experts. The area had previously been deemed too hazardous for teams to work.
Anderson explained the new approach: “There is an ever-present risk to the dedicated teams working in the shadow of the maunga, but sensitive surveillance equipment is now giving us a real-time overview of the condition of the environment. Slight movements can be tracked, and we can get people out of the immediate area under the slip.”
He continued, “We are doing everything we can to protect the people who are trying to reunite loved ones with their families. Recovery teams are working methodically through the scene, but there are still many days of work ahead of us.”
Due to the conditions, Anderson stated there is no timeline for completing the work. “It is a delicate operation, and it will take as long as it takes,” he concluded.
Key Takeaways
- The deaths of Austen Keith Richardson and Yao Fang underscore the vulnerability of coastal communities to landslides.
- The second landslide left six people missing, prompting a national search and recovery effort.
- New Zealand Police and geotechnical experts are coordinating to safely continue recovery operations.
- The community’s response has highlighted the importance of support networks during such tragedies.
