A Morrinsville educator who “touched the hearts of many” is being remembered after being named as a person missing in Thursday’s Mount Maunganui landslide.
Police released the names of six people lost in the tragedy, saying it has now turned into a recovery operation after the discovery of human remains.
Among the lost was 50-year-old Lisa Anne Maclennan, who worked as the literacy centre co-ordinator at Morrinsville Intermediate.
“It is with great sadness that we need to inform you that one of our staff members, Lisa Maclennan (our amazing Literacy Centre tutor), is one of the people trapped in the landslide at Mount Maunganui,” principal Jenny Clark announced on social media.
“We continue to hope and pray for Lisa,” Clark wrote.
“Our love and aroha go out to Lisa’s family; we ask that you respect their privacy at this very difficult time.”
Morrinsville woman Lisa Maclennan, 50, is among those unaccounted for at Mt Maunganui.
Dozens from the school community shared their heartbreak and prayers for Maclennan and her family.
“Lisa touched the hearts of many,” one said.
“Such a special woman, who has contributed to so many young people in our community,” another wrote.
“Lisa you were an amazing woman who gave everything to those kids.”
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said in a statement about the missing today that it was “now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive”.
“This is heartbreaking news for the families and the dozens of people who have been working day and night, hoping for a positive outcome,” Anderson said.
“We informed the families of this news this morning and we’re continuing to provide them with wrap around support. They are going through something very few people could understand, and we ask that they be given space to grieve.”
The names of the other five people missing in the landslide have been released, they are:
- Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, from Sweden
- Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua
- Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, from Ngongotaha
- Sharon Maccanico, 15, from Auckland
- Max Furse-Kee, 15, from Auckland
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