Tauranga emergency services called to slip in Maungatapu

The large slip that came down behind the couple's home. Photo/Alex Cairns.

A Tauranga property will be assessed for damage today after a landslide forced the evacuation of a family home yesterday.

Emergency services and geo-tech engineers were called to a Moiri Place address in Maungatapu around 2.45pm after a large slip had surrounded the home’s garage, pushing a car forward and coming to just under the home’s eaves.

The house is down a long, shared driveway.

Fire and Emergency NZ Bay of Plenty district commander Jeff Maunder said they were called to reports of the landslide about 4pm.

There were initial concerns of people missing but when firefighters arrived, they found the family - a couple and their baby - inside the home.

The slip had not entered the house, he said.

The couple and their baby had to be evacuated after a large slip came down behind their home. Photo / Alex Cairns

The family was evacuated because of the risk of a secondary slip.

The couple declined to comment.

Tauranga City Council’s general manager: regulatory and compliance, Sarah Omundsen, said council engineers were on site Wednesday evening and had spoken with the affected residents.

“A geotech assessment will be undertaken on Thursday morning when improved daylight will allow for better investigation of any damage sustained to the property and surrounding areas.

“Engineers will assess what repairs or actions are required for the property to be deemed safe. If nearby residents see any further land movement they are advised to self-evacuate and stay with family or friends.”

Large amount of water

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the slip had come down at the rear of the property and one fire truck attended.

Emergency services at the scene of a slip in Maungatapu. Photo / Kiri Gillespie

A reporter at the scene said the home was down a right of way.

Neighbour Shaughn Prestidge told the Bay of Plenty Times he had noticed a large amount of water flowing from a large bank behind their properties.

He was so concerned when he noticed it last year that he employed drainlayers to divert the water under his driveway to the roadside.

“I got concerned with the other slips at the other end of Maungatapu earlier this year. I could see we had problems, so I got it done.”

The large slip covered part of the shared driveway. Photo/Alex Cairns.

He stood on the grass to highlight how sodden it was.

In February, a landslide on Egret Ave resulted in the evacuation of 24 homes, and five homes were identified as uninhabitable as a result.

Egret Ave resident Luke Hanan’s home was destroyed by the slip.