FENZ Responds to Fresh Landslide in Coastal Muriwai

Fire and Emergency crews are on-site at a new landslide in the coastal settlement of Muriwai. Auckland Council is currently assessing the location and impact.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 3:20 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Current Situation

One FENZ crew is currently on-site assessing the stability of the area. Auckland Council has taken over as the lead agency for the investigation, with a spokesperson stating that staff are still working to determine the exact coordinates of the slip and any potential threat to property or infrastructure.

A Community on Edge

Muriwai remains a highly sensitive area regarding land stability. The community was devastated during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 when a massive landslide on Motutara Road claimed the lives of two volunteer firefighters, Craig Stevens and Dave van Zwanenberg. Since then, large sections of the coastal cliffs have been under constant monitoring, and many residents have faced long-term displacement due to "red-sticker" zoning.

Transformative Analysis: The Legacy of Instability

For Muriwai, every new slip is more than a technical geological event; it is a traumatic reminder of recent history. Following the 2023 disaster, geological surveys revealed that much of the settlement sits on fragile sandstone and ash layers that become highly lubricated during heavy rainfall.