Whakaari/White Island after it erupted on December 9, 2019. Photo / NZME
Whakaari/White Island after it erupted on December 9, 2019. Photo / NZME
White Island Tours Limited has admitted two charges laid by WorkSafe after the Whakaari/White Island eruption.
The company says it “deeply regrets” its failings, while WorkSafe says the significance of the pleas could not be understated.
On December 9, 2019, 47 people were on the island off Whakatāne when it erupted. Most were visiting with White Island Tours from a cruise ship docked in Tauranga.
In all, 22 people died and 25 were injured.
In 2020, WorkSafe New Zealand laid charges against 13 parties in relation to the eruption, a number of whom are to defend their charges at a trial beginning next month. Others have pleaded guilty or had charges dropped.
White Island Tours today pleaded guilty to one count each of failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and a similar charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of other persons.
The charges were laid under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and each carries a maximum fine of $1.5m.
The pleas were entered in the Whakatāne District Court today.
White Island Tours Ltd said the guilty pleas acknowledged its risk assessment processes did not adequately identify the risk of a significant eruption taking place without warning on Whakaari, therefore creating a risk to visitors and employees.
“White Island Tours deeply regrets this.”
White Island Tours Ltd director Paul Quinn said: “We were all devastated by the eruption in 2019 and the victims and their whānau remain in our thoughts. In light of this tragedy, we decided that no further guided tours would be taken to Whakaari and all visits ceased from the time of the eruption.”
He said White Island Tours Limited would not be sentenced until the charges against other defendants are resolved at the upcoming defended trial before Judge Evangelos Thomas.
“Accordingly, White Island Tours Limited will not be making any further comment at this stage, out of respect to the judicial process and the victims,” Quinn said.
WorkSafe chief executive Phil Parkes welcomed the guilty pleas.
Of the 22 people who died, most were customers of White Island Tours and two were employees.
The employees who died were Hayden Marshall-Inman and Tipene Maangi.
Hayden Marshall-Inman was an experienced guide for White Island Tours. Photo / Facebook
White Islands Tours guide Tipene Maangi died as a result of the Whakaari eruption.
A further 19 customers and two employees were injured, he said.
Parkes said three White Island Tours boats were either at the island or returning at the time of the eruption.
“The survivors and the families of those tourists and workers who died or were seriously harmed will carry this impact for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Parkes said WorkSafe charged White Island Tours in relation to its failure to conduct adequate risk assessments and implement controls to ensure the risk of serious injury and death to tourists and workers was reduced.
“White Island Tours has also acknowledged it failed to ensure tourists were fully informed of the hazards and risks associated with visiting Whakaari before taking them there.
“We hope the decision of White Island Tours will provide some assurance to the survivors and family and whānau of those who passed that those who had a duty to ensure their safety and failed to do so are being held to account.”
He said those who travelled with White Island Tours and were on Whakaari when it erupted included family groups, couples and friends travelling together.
“We remember everyone who was impacted by Whakaari.”
