Wardens spat at, pelted with bottles while guarding Mauao after fatal landslide

Wardens tasked with guarding the closed maunga of Mauao following a fatal landslide have faced significant abuse, including being spat at and pelted with bottles. Those performing the security duties report that the assignment has brought dangerous breaches of the closure and exceptionally difficult working conditions.

The volatile situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding public access to the hazardous site in the wake of the tragedy, as personnel on the ground struggle to enforce safety boundaries against hostile members of the public.