On Monday, the sentencing process began for tour booking agents and managers of White Island in New Zealand, where a volcanic eruption tragically took the lives of 22 people, the majority of whom were tourists, in 2019. The prosecutor cautioned that those being sentenced may not have the means to pay any fines imposed.
At the time of the eruption on December 9, 2019, there were 47 individuals on White Island, also known as Whakaari in Maori. The survivors, many of whom suffered severe burns from the scorching gas and ash, were left devastated. Most of the victims hailed from countries such as Australia, the U.S., and Malaysia.
White Island Tours, Volcanic Air Safaris, Kahu New Zealand, and Aerius, along with the corporate owner of the island, Whakaari Management Limited, are facing sentencing on various criminal charges related to their failure to adequately ensure the safety of both workers and visitors on the island. Each charge carries a maximum fine of NZ$1.5 million.
Prosecutor Kirsty McDonald, representing workplace regulator Worksafe, expressed that the individuals being sentenced have indicated their inability to meet any financial obligations. However, she argued that appropriate financial penalties should still be imposed, even if they may not be paid in full.
McDonald emphasized the immeasurable devastation caused by the eruption, stating, “There was catastrophic loss of life.” White Island, an active volcanic site situated 50 km offshore from Whakatane, was a popular tourist spot prior to the tragic events of 2019. It is now off-limits to tourists.
Throughout the sentencing process, victims and their families, some of whom have traveled from abroad, will share statements detailing the profound impact of the eruption on their lives. The judge is expected to announce sentences and any required reparation payments later this week or in the following week.
McDonald revealed that White Island Tours possesses NZ$5 million for reparations, while Volcanic Air holds NZ$300,000 through their insurance coverage. The other entities involved do not have the financial resources to make reparation payments.
Another entity, the government-funded research institute Geological Nuclear Sciences, will also face sentencing for its lapse in ensuring the safety of helicopter pilots transporting scientists to the island. This charge is separate from the events of the eruption itself.
($1 = 1.6221 New Zealand dollars)
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Stephen Coates)
