Mount Maunganui Landslides: 10-Year-Old Austen Richardson And Grandmother Yao Fang Confirmed Dead; Search Continues

New Zealand Police have confirmed that 10-year-old Austen Keith Richardson and his 71-year-old grandmother, Yao Fang, died after a landslide damaged their home on Welcome Bay Rd in Pāpāmoa on Jan. 22. Their deaths have been referred to the coroner as recovery and identification work continues following separate landslides in the Mount Maunganui area.

Authorities said a second, separate landslide struck a nearby campsite, leaving six people reported missing. Search teams moved into a recovery phase after receiving advice from independent geotechnical experts, and sensitive monitoring equipment is now being used to track ground movement as recovery teams work methodically through unstable terrain.

Family Remembers Austen And His Grandmother

In a statement supplied to police, the family described Austen and his grandmother as having an "incredibly close relationship," with Austen affectionately calling her "Nai Nai." The family said they emigrated from Shanghai when Austen was eight months old. Austen had recently completed the Montessori class at Arataki School and was accepted to begin Year 7 at Bethlehem College.

The family remembered Austen as a gifted musician who loved piano, enjoyed mechanical projects, built Lego, rode motorbikes, collected Pokémon and liked solving math problems. They recalled attending the Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival the weekend before the disaster and surprising Austen with a motocross bike — a treasured memory for them.

They described Fang as a devoted mother and grandmother who had worked as an architect in China, helped tend the family vegetable garden, cared for the chickens and regularly attended the Chinese Methodist Church in Greerton.

"We are absolutely devastated by the loss of our treasured son and his beloved Nai Nai," the family said, adding their thoughts were with other families affected by the Mount Maunganui tragedy.

Search And Recovery Operations

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said recovery teams had been working through slip material "layer by layer" and that the operation had moved into a recovery phase. He informed families that it was now tragically apparent the missing were unlikely to be found alive and asked that families be given space to grieve.

Human remains were located and are undergoing formal identification. Search efforts were paused briefly because of unstable conditions but resumed after geotechnical advice. Anderson said surveillance equipment provides real-time views of ground movements, allowing teams to remove personnel quickly if conditions change.

"We are doing everything we can to protect the people who are trying to reunite loved ones with their families," Anderson said, emphasizing that the operation is delicate and that there is no set timeline for completing the work.

People Reported Missing

• Sharon Maccanico, 15
• Max Furse-Kee, 15
• Lisa Maclennan, 50
• Jacqualine Wheeler, 71
• Susan Knowles, 71
• Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20 (Swedish national)

Neighbors and members of the community described Austen and Fang as warm, generous people who were always willing to help others. Local music teacher Chalium Poppy said he had a lesson scheduled with Austen on the day of the landslide and was stunned when he learned Austen did not attend.

Police continue to coordinate recovery efforts with emergency services and geotechnical experts while supporting affected families and the wider community.