Source: Radio New Zealand
Two bodies were recovered by police on Thursday at the Welcome Bay home. RNZ / Calvin Samuel
A child killed alongside his grandmother when a landslide hit a house in Pāpāmoa was a “bright” talented musician, his piano teacher says.
Two bodies were recovered by police at the home on Welcome Bay Rd on Thursday.
RNZ understands they were a grandmother and grandchild.
St Peter’s Anglican Church director of music Chalium Poppy said the boy was due to come to a piano lesson at the Mt Maunganui church on Thursday.
Poppy said he was contacted by a friend of the family to say the boy was missing in one of the slips.
“I’d been teaching all morning, so I hadn’t heard the news about the slips yet, and so I was a little bit caught off guard and on the back foot, but it became obvious during the day that it was a lot more serious,” he said.
“Then I found out again from a friend of the family, whose son also takes piano from me, that it was confirmed today that he was one of the two victims.”
Poppy said the boy had recently started taking piano lessons with him.
“He had only sort of just started, so he had a few lessons… but like with all my students, I always sort of do a meet and greet first and make sure that it’s going to be a right fit for the student and the parents and everything and so I got to know him through sort of the meet and greet more than his lessons, but he was just really bright and incredibly talkative… asked lots of really great questions, like a really cool, sort of inquisitive mind, and obviously talented musically.”
The church had opened its doors on Friday and were holding a vigil.
“It’s all just very raw, like it’s just happening, there are still people that are missing,” he said.
“We’re just responding the only way that… the church knows how, and that’s to sort of open up our doors, provide sanctuary, provide a place for people to come and pray and sit in silence and light a candle. We’re here to serve the community, so that’s exactly what we do, and especially in times of need.”
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson confirmed on Friday afternoon one of the people who died at Welcome Bay was a Chinese national.
An aerial photo of Welcome Bay Rd where a landslide came down. Supplied
He confirmed six people were currently unaccounted for, including two teenagers, following the landslide at Mt Maunganui.
The youngest of those missing was 15-years-old.
“We have been unable to establish the whereabouts of three further individuals.
“While we do not currently believe they were involved in the slip, further enquiries are required to rule it out.
“Those three parties are believed to be tourists, and we believe it is likely they left the area.”
Police were asking anyone with video footage of the slip at Mt Maunganui yesterday to upload it via this online portal.
“Additionally, anyone who might have information that could help our enquiries into the three parties whose whereabouts are yet to be determined is also asked to get in touch,” Anderson said.
People could do so through the 105 service, referencing Operation Sunbrae.
“We are wrapping support around the families of those whose loved ones are unaccounted for,” Anderson said.
“We would also like to acknowledge the wider community, who have similarly shown such an outpouring of support and empathy for those affected, including the family of those who died in Welcome Bay.”
Anderson said there were still thousands of people across the region affected by the weather event, and Police, alongside other agencies, were working to support the communities.
“In Welcome Bay, where a number of evacuations were carried out, Police are carrying out additional patrols around those vacant properties until residents can return.
“Police will continue to work with our partners to support the ongoing operation at Mount Maunganui as the first priority, and will also continue to deploy our staff across the region where they are most needed.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
