Mount Maunganui’s lifeguard clubhouse at the base of Mauao has been “declared unsafe to occupy” following last Thursday’s landslide.

The multimillion-dollar building is one of four sites on Adams Ave issued with a red placard under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act.

A red placard means a building is unsafe to occupy due to external risks, but it does not automatically mean it has to be demolished.

Mount Hot Pools was also issued with a red placard. Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park has been issued two.

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service chair Brent Warner said the club had worked with emergency services, neighbouring clubs and the national body to make sure the club could still run volunteer patrols.

The service evacuated the club buildings as a precaution after the disaster, and the club remained cordoned off.

Core rescue equipment was moved to a Portacom and storage container further along the Main Beach, where regional lifeguards had operated since the tragedy at Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park.

“Using the temporary facilities we’ve set up is something we’ve done in the past, as recently as during our club rebuild within the past six years,” Warner said.

He said with the rāhui now in place, the ongoing sensitivity and continued operations on Mauao, the club recommended people swim between the flags at Tay St.

Lifeguard tower at Tay St Beach. Photo / John Borren

“Check in with lifeguards before entering the water.”

Warner said Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service club members were “adaptable” and “resilient”.

“They know that any inconvenience they’re facing is absolutely dwarfed by the incomparable suffering and hardship of others in our community.”

The victims of the landslide are Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Max Furse-Kee, 15.

The recovery operation in Mount Maunganui was temporarily suspended yesterday morning after the technology installed to monitor land movement was triggered.

The cordoned area around the landslip site has been reduced to allow businesses to open on the Marine Parade side of the mount.

The changes mean that Marine Parade, as far as Adams Ave, will be open to pedestrians.

Mount Maunganui was previously cordoned off at Commons Ave/Marine Parade, Leinster Ave/Maunganui Rd, and Leinster Ave/The Mall intersections.

The Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service clubhouse is one of four sites along Adams Ave issued with a red placard under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act. Photo / Corey Fleming

Tauranga City Council emergency controller Tom McEntyre said the red placard meant that a building was unsafe to occupy due to external risks such as land instability, landslides or danger from neighbouring buildings.

McEntyre said a red placard did not automatically mean the building had to be demolished.

“It means it cannot be used until it is made safe.”

“The placard may be downgraded if, after reassessment, it is determined that the immediate risk to the building has been reduced.”

The council said there had been four red placards and 16 yellow placards issued citywide. A yellow placard means there is restricted access.

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.