The Tauranga mayor says the hardest part of the last few days has been witnessing the grieving families of those lost in Thursday's landslide

Six people are presumed dead after human remains were found in the landslide at Mount Maunganui campground.

Those still missing include two Pakuranga College students, two 71-year-old friends from Rotorua, a Morrinsville school tutor, and a Swedish tourist.

The operation has now switched from rescue to recovery.

Mahe Drysdale says, as a mayor, you always know something like this could happen in your area but you hope it never does.

He says, despite the difficulties, thinking about what the families are going through gives him strength.