Police Minister Stuart Nash is rejecting claims that the authorities' response to the White Island eruption was "Pike River all over again", saying that comparison was "very unfair".
He has also defended the Police's decision to hold off sending a recovery team to the island, telling reporters this morning that it was still an "extremely dangerous situation".
"They [Police] had no idea what they were dealing with and what they're doing is waiting for the right time and the technical information before they can actually even think about going on to the island."
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When criticisms about the search and rescue team were put to him, Nash said it was his understanding that a Police helicopter did fly over this island and saw "no signs of life whatsoever".