The Riveria sailed into Tauranga Harbour this morning at 7am and is due to sail out at 3.15pm. 

Passengers were due to disembark from 8am, with many being collected by tour operators who will take them on excursions around the region. Some bus tour operators go directly into the port at Rata St while others collect passengers from Salisbury Ave.

Tomorrow the Norwegian Spirit is in port, returning again on Thursday. The Viking Sky and Noordam will be in port on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Next week is a very busy cruise ship week at Mount Maunganui as eight cruise ships are set to visit, with two days having two cruise ships berthed on the same day.

Mount Mainstreet on Monday morning. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

The Pepi Toot Beach Express has halted local tours which usually takes cruise ship passengers and visitors from Salisbury Ave along The Mall and around Adams Ave, along Marine Parade before circling back and going down Mount Mainstreet through the shopping area. 

A usual early morning ritual for many locals is to walk up or around Mauao before dawn and then head to a local café for a chat with friends. 

On Mount Mainstreet, the Mount Surfshop opens early with locals meeting there for coffee from around 6am. 

‘Sean’s Mob’ meeting for coffee at the Mount Surfshop on Monday morning.  Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

“Sometimes we walk around the Mount and then come here for coffee,” Doug Adsett said.

“It’s a very sombre time, a very different feel to the Mount at this time of year.”

At the moment the eight cafés and restaurants opposite the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service on the corner of Marine Parade and Adams Ave, like The Coffee Club, Three One One Six, Dixie Brown, Turkish to Go Mount, and Sidetrack Café are closed due to the cordon and this will be having an impact on their businesses. 

Sidetrack have posted to their Facebook page yesterday that they haven't heard anything from “council or authorities”.

"Sidetrack cafe will remain closed at this stage. We have had no communication from council or authorities. We can’t wait to welcome you all back very soon hopefully . We miss you all. Kia Kaha."

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell responded to the complaints of the eight cafes inside the cordon still unable to open to the public. The businesses have argued that the cordon is too wide.

“The cordon has been put in place by the police along with the emergency services. Look, I'm not going to pass judgment on where that cordon should be. They're best placed to determine that.

“There is a lot of sensitivity down there. They're dealing with what is still a pretty volatile site. There is a considerable amount of heavy machinery coming in and out of that cordon. But in saying that, yes, these businesses will be losing money, and there needs to be a look at how that can be addressed as well.”

Mount Drury is also fenced off, including the playground.

 Mount Drury is fenced off. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Mainly fine weather, with some isolated showers, for Mount Maunganui today

Metservice says the Mount Maunganui area can expect mainly fine weather today, with some isolated afternoon showers.

Duty forecaster Michael Pawley said high pressure is building over the country, which usually brings more stable conditions.

Overall, it looks like a reasonably settled week with minimal risk of any severe weather nationwide this week.

He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre is open

A community care centre has been set up in central Mount Maunganui to support those grieving after the fatal landslides in the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Moana.

He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre. Photo/ Rosalie Liddle Crawford

He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre, located in the former Bay City Cinema building at 249 Maunganui Rd, opened as a space for people to gather, reflect, pay tribute to those who lost their lives, and support one another following Thursday’s tragic landslides. The centre is open daily from 9am to 9pm until further notice.

People wishing to help recovery efforts have been encouraged to donate to the Western Bay Emergency Response Fund, set up by the Acorn Foundation on Friday.

As of midday on Sunday, the fund had raised just under $20,000. To donate to the Western Bay Emergency Response Fund, visit acornfoundation.org.nz.