The Prime Minister's praised the unity of New Zealanders - after Thursday's landslide at Mount Maunganui

Recovery efforts were halted yesterday due to fears of another potential slip - after a crack appeared on the maunga yesterday.

Six people remain unaccounted for, and are presumed dead.

Hundreds gathered at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park last night - including Christopher Luxon, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell, and Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale.

Luxon says he's proud of the response to the slip, and proud of New Zealanders.

He says we sadly get a lot of events like this - and become better and better at responding to them.