Whakaari/White Island: The day after the volcano blew
Tuesday, 10 December 2019
The whānau of Tipene Maangi stood vigil at Whakatāne wharf, their gaze fixated on the volcano that claimed his life.
As news of Monday's eruption of Whakaari/White Island headlined international media, his whānau flocked to the Bay of Plenty seaside town.
On Tuesday they came in numbers, from as far as the East Cape, with some clasping solitary black flags.
Maangi, 23, was a tour guide with White Island Tours, a job he loved, his whānau say.
**READ MORE:
* Whakaari/White Island: Police and WorkSafe launch investigations
* Whakaari/White Island: 47 on island when it erupted, five confirmed dead, eight missing
* Ovation of the Seas captain offers counselling to passengers after Whakaari/White Island eruption
* Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption: Images from rescue helicopter crews**
He, along, with Hayden Marshall-Inman, were guides with White Island Tours. Both are believed to have been killed during the eruption which is understood to have claimed 14 lives.
Six deaths have been confirmed, while eight remain missing, believed dead.
Meanwhile a further 30 people have been treated at seven hospitals throughout the country. Of those, nearly all had suffered greater than 30 per cent burns over their body.
Ministry of Health spokesman Pete Watson said it's possible that not all those being treated would survive.
One of those badly burnt was American honeymooner Lauren Urey, who was on the island with her husband Matthew. News of her injures has infuriated her mother who was 'livid' tourists were allowed on the island in the first place.
Police national operations commander, Deputy Commissioner, John Tims said on Tuesday afternoon that a criminal investigation was now under way, but it was early days and they had to work through all the evidence.
The criminal investigation will happen alongside the WorkSafe investigation, Tims said.
'As the workplace health and safety regulator and administrator of the Adventure Activities Regulations, WorkSafe will be investigating and considering all of the relevant work health and safety issues surrounding this tragic event.'
Meanwhile, Tims said police were doing all they could to recover the bodies and they had photos which indicated where those bodies were.
However, they were covered in ash and police were unsure of the state of them, he said. The area remained a no-fly and exclusion zone.
Police were working with Defence and Fire and Emergency NZ and GNS Science to get a better understanding on conditions on the island to aid the recovery operation.
'We understand people's desire to recover their loved ones and we are working around the clock to get onto the island so we can recover them as soon as possible.
'Based on the effects of the eruption on the bodies, this recovery will need to be handled with expert skill and care.'
During a speech in the House on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said serious questions must be asked and answered into how the tragedy happened and Worksafe would be investigating.
'But our focus now is on discharging our duty of care to support those affected and that is also the focus of the police,' she said.
'I say to those who have lost and grieve – you are forever linked to our nation and we will hold you close.'
The Nationalities of the 47 people on the island at the time the eruption included two people from the UK, four from Germany, 24 from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from china, one from Malaysia, nine from the USA.
She earlier praised the 'brave' work of the disaster first responders when she met with them at the Whakatāne Fire Station on Tuesday morning.
Ardern was seen hugging and shaking hands of those who were first on the scene to help.
She spoke briefly, describing the actions of first responders and helicopter pilots who assisted 'incredibly brave'.
'What a community that exists here. Firefighters, Police, St. John all on the ground and assisting. They have done an incredible job in difficult circumstances.'
Whakatāne District Mayor Judy Turner said her heart went out to the injured, the missing and the deceased, and their families and whānau.
A Civil Defence Centre opened on Tuesday at the Whakatāne Library to provide psycho-social support to those that needed it.
Back at Mānuka Tūtahi Marae, Maangi's family joined the whānau of Marshall-Inman.
His brother said it 'smells like Pike River all over again'.
'[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.
'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.'
Ngāti Awa kaumātua Te Kei Merito said the point of whānau gathering was to share.
'The environment that prevailed within the house… obviously it's about those who are here, those who have gathered, to remember, to mourn and to seek information about those who are still on the island.
'It's an occasion for sharing and to embrace each other.'
Meanwhile late on Tuesday the owners of the island, the Buttle family, issued 'heartfelt sympathies and condolences' to those affected by the eruption.
Speaking from Whakatāne, Whakaari Trust spokesperson Peter Buttle said his family have owned the island for over 80 years and are devastated by the tragic event.
'We are all shocked by what has occurred on Whakaari yesterday and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
'We wish to thank everyone involved in the rescue effort, including the first responders, medical personnel and the locals who helped evacuate people from the island. Their efforts have been both courageous and extraordinary.'