Bo-Jangles

Latest this morning is 8 people missing and believed to be dead on the island; 31 people hospitalised ,with many in burns units throughout the country and three others discharged.

NZ does not have a great track record when it comes to health and safety, particularly in the tourist industry. You have to wonder who deemed it safe to continue to take tourists over there given the heightened level of activity and how bad would it actually have to have been before they would they have made the call to cease taking passengers on the tours.

MrsFychan

And now an earthquake.
what with this and flooding in both south and north island NZ isn't being particularly nice atm, but hey we all know the climate and weather bombs here

Charismatic

Volcano in 'doing a volcano type thing' shocker.

Could anybody have predicted this active volcano would erupt an ashcloud? Will the minister of volcanos resign? Will volcanos be banned? How long before people learn to be complacent about volcano safety again?

spouse of scouse

So many dead, missing, badly burned I'm glad that the focus for now is recovering the missing and identifying those who have died and are injured and burnt. The blame game can wait.

Mishclark

Totally agree

Justcol

We're talking about Kiwis hoovering money out of tourists pockets. There's no level of H&S legislation or threat going to stop that.

Latest news is that there's going to be criminal charges. Seeing as Maori (Ngati awa) oversees the place, let's see how far that goes before Saint Jacinda decides it might cost votes

BEVS

OK. So a criminal investigation is routine. Not charges . Investigation.

The island is privately owned. It is licensed out to the tour operators. Those operators are not under any local or national authority because it is a privately owned island. Just like many of the tour operators, they use what they have to guide themselves in their operations. That ranges from sea ventures to tramping , mountaineering, and other types of tourist activities that tourists want and pay for here in NZ.

Historically people have worked on that island and many families have grown up close to that island.

ATM I have no idea if it is usual to continue to operate under a certain code or not. I do take note that an operator had an issue with a boat a while back when it basically sank.

I am not sure if the family trust is a Maori one or a mix of this. Likely a mix.

I am not sure why you denigrate the NZ Prime Minister in this way Col to be honest. She holds herself well. She is not of the trust nor of the licensed operators. That is Iwi and for those not familiar that is not of NZ government.

It does seem you may have an issue with Maori Ngati Awa and their approach to H&S and the like but here in NZ that is separate. It certainly needs looking at as it should not be so. However I do take your point that as always NZ will likely tread on eggshells over this if it is cross Pakaha/Maori. It is in this that NZ will never ever move forward as it should - together. That is so very frustrating.


Personally. I am pig sick of the slack ways here . I know people going onto the island should have been aware it is active and live but y'know if you are looking for an experience then if it is in your face that it is dangerous then perhaps you think it isn't dangerous.

Plenty of places in New Zealand are thermally active and peddles this. If you see Rotorua and then think heck White Island it is not such a great step really. If you are not familiar with quakes and eruptions it may seem exciting or interesting, You will not get the impact if it is not written right out there in your face.

Heck. People still climb Vesuvius yet it is an active volcano.

The issue will be that there was heightened activity in that area but that did not raise a concern. It was not a magma eruption . It was an extreme steam vent ( understatement) . That is not identifiable although the pressure build may have be.

As has been stated, concern for the victims and the families and friends first and foremost. Then think about if White Island should really be a tour destination.

Mishclark

calman014

More information:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...tims-last-hope

moneypenny20

Just heartbreaking.

spouse of scouse

How wonderful are those two chopper pilots who flew to the island and rescued about 12 people This was before an emergency services people were permitted to go.

Bo-Jangles

I suspect a large element of the 'she'll be right, eh?' Kiwi can do attitude at play.

Justcol

I suspect a large element of the "fleece the tourists at any cost" kiwi can do attitude at play.

BEVS

This article explains a little about the cause and the lack of warning signs.


It makes mention of another incident of the same ilk. Mt Ontake , Japan.

.

spouse of scouse

NZ police say that the condition of 25 people in hospital is critical, some of them are burnt so severely they are unable to be identified or speak. The poor souls, it's horrific.