The names of the six people unaccounted-for have been released.  (Reuters: David Rowland/Pool)

In short:

Human remains have been found during search efforts three days after a landslide in New Zealand.

Authorities say the search has now moved into a recovery phase.

What’s next?

The chief coroner will now work to identify the remains.

Human remains have been found under debris at the site of the landslide that devastated a campground on New Zealand’s North Island three days ago.

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said emergency services personnel located the remains overnight.

The landslide at Mount Maunganui, about three hours south of Auckland on the island’s east coast, brought soil and rubble onto the campsite in the city of Tauranga on Thursday about 9:30am, local time.

Superintendent Anderson said the search was moving into a recovery phase.

“This is heartbreaking news for us,” he said.

“And obviously, the families involved.”

Emergency service personnel worked at the scene of the landslide for a second straight day on Friday. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung )

Authorities have released the names and ages of the six people unaccounted-for.

They are:

Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, from Morrinsville, New Zealand
Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, from Sweden
Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua, New Zealand
Susan Doreen Knowles, 71, from Ngongotaha, New Zealand
Sharon Maccanico, 15, from Auckland, New Zealand
Max Furse-Kee, 15, from Auckland, New Zealand

The two teens were both students at Auckland’s Pakūranga College, which has posted a tribute on its Instagram page.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of two Pakūranga College students, Max Furse-Kee and Sharon Maccanico,” the post said.

“The college has been in contact with both families to express our heartfelt sympathy.”

Remains handed to coroner

People waited anxiously for news from the search as community leaders gathered to provide support. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung )

Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton said a “painstakingly complex” process of identifying the remains would now take place.

“This is an unimaginably terrible time for those people who have lost the people they love,” she said.

She said care would be taken to ensure any bodies found would be treated with dignity and any specific cultural needs would be adhered to as best as possible.

“The victims who have died will be transported to the mortuary at Hamilton and kept there until they are able to be reunited with their families.”

She said authorities would work as quickly as possible, while taking care to ensure identifications were accurate.

With more rain in the area overnight and another small landslip, Superintendent Anderson said his main concerns were around the safety of search crews.

“The likelihood of someone being alive is unlikely according to the experts, but you can never rule that out,” he said.

What is a landslide and how does it happen?

Here’s how landslides occur, the warning signs and where they are most common.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale said an official review into the incident would take place.

“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded,” Mr Drysdale said.

“As Council, on behalf of the families and the whole community, we need to understand the facts and ensure that in the lead-up to this tragedy, everything was done that was appropriate in the circumstances.”

It was unclear when Mount Maunganui would reopen to visitors. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand was “full of grief”, describing what happened at Mount Maunganui as “an absolute tragedy.”

He spent the morning with families of some of those missing who were “waiting for their loved ones to be accounted for and are missing.”

“They are grieving incredibly hard, and I know that New Zealand grieves with them,” Mr Luxon said on Friday.

Christopher Luxon journeyed to the site of the disaster on Friday after surveying much of the damage by helicopter. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung )

He said that road access, flooding and further landslides remained problems in the region.

Landslides elsewhere in the region killed at least two people.