Brother of man killed on Whakaari/White Island says authorities repeating Pike River

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

One of those who died in White Island eruption confirmed to be local tour guide.

The brother of a Whakatane man killed on Whakaari/White Island said the family have had no communication with authorities around recovering the bodies.

'It smells like Pike River all over again,' said the brother of Hayden Marshall-Inman, the first of five confirmed fatalities from Monday's eruption.

The tour guide's body is believed to be still on the island as authorities said this morning the operation was moving into a recovery, rather than rescue phase as no hope remained for the eight people still missing.

'(It's) people from Wellington making decisions for people that go on the island daily who know the island inside out,' said the man, who asked not to be named.

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One of five confirmed deaths is Hayden Marshall-Inman.

'Why are they not listening to the experts that go to the island.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone, but we just want them back… off the island.'

Marshall-Inman's brother said he knew of a local helicopter pilot who was prepared to go to the island and bring his brother home.

Marshall-Inman has been a tour guide for more than a decade, and he knew the risks associated with the job.

'It is what it is, he died doing what he loved.'

Police say advice from GeoNet suggests the island is too unsafe to go on to as it could erupt again. A navy vessel was assessing the area by drone on Tuesday morning to determine when recover teams could land.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made it clear all current efforts by police and emergency services on the island are based on recovering bodies. They do not believe there is any chance of any survivors still being on the island.

Former mayor Tony Boone knew Marshall-Inman and previously operated a dive tour company for about 15 years.

'White Island has been special to me because while I was mayor, for 15 years, I operated dive trips to White Island. I was a tour operator.

White Island as seen from the air during and eruption which occurred as a tour party was visiting the volcanic island.

'We didn't go on the island but we dived around it.

'I can't remember when the last unrest was but it must have been about six or seven years ago.'

The former mayor-turned-real estate agent said they would give tourists a special briefing if there was any activity on the island.

'We knew if there was unrest that we had to have emergency procedures in place in case something happened but it never did.

'And today, I think it's just one of those things. Just like with a car accident - at the wrong place, wrong time.

'And the island's decided to blow when there's tourists on the island.'

Bonne also hopes 'Wellington' does not dictate what happens in terms of protocol from here.

'I'm hoping the fatalities are a lot lower, they need to get people there to sort it out.

'Don't let the people from Wellington dictate what can happen.

'That's my frustration to be honest.

'People in charge of the control centre should be the people that know White Island.'

Bay of Plenty local Christine Yeoman laid yellow and pink lilies at the base of the cordon at Whakatāne Heads.

While she did not know any of those affected, she felt for the families of the victims, both missing and injured.

She made the 36km journey from Kawerau on Tuesday morning.

'For some of these victims their families are scattered around the world.

'I just feel for the families, I feel for them.'