The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed, several hours after being suspended this morning.
Detective Inspector Lew Warner says work restarted officially at 2pm, after the team received confirmation from experts that the area was safe to enter and resume operations.
"Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery.
"While the suspension of work is frustrating for everybody involved, the correct measures must be taken to ensure the safety of everybody at the scene.
"I want to reiterate that it is absolutely necessary that we do everything in our power to keep the recovery team safe.
"These people have been working tirelessly in a range of testing conditions across the last week, to bring families their loved ones back."
Work continues near the ablution block
The recovery team, involving Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand's urban Search and Rescue, and contract drivers are continuing to focus on the area where the ablution block was.
"This is meticulous work which we have to conduct extremely carefully. Teams will continue to work delicately through the area of interest, and we expect this to take some time," says Detective Inspector Warner.
Police are not yet in a position to comment on what has been located to date, however expect the recovery to continue in the coming days.
One week since the landslide
Today marks one week since the landslide. Police would again like to acknowledge the community for the outpouring of support.
"The Mount Maunganui community is an extremely tight-knit community, and ever since this devastating event, they have come together and offered any assistance they can for the families, the emergency workers and everybody impacted," says Detective Inspector Warner.
"We would also like to acknowledge the many staff assisting with the recovery. Not just the recovery team, but our family liaison officers and other specialist staff across the board."
Police continue to seek imagery of mountain prior to slip
Police are asking anyone with video footage and images of the slip at Mt Maunganui to upload it via this online portal.
We are particularly interested in any footage or images of the campsite and Mount Maunganui between Wednesday night right through to the time the slip happened and the immediate time after the slip.
We have already received more than 100 video clips and photos through the portal and we want to thank those who have taken the time to send this in.
