Whakaari/White Island tourism 'at risk' after eruption, says iwi elder

Thursday, 12 December 2019

The rahui on Whakaari/White Island offers respect to those who lost their lives and to their families.

The future of tourism on Whakaari/White Island could be brought into question if two of those who died on the island during the eruption cannot be recovered, an iwi leader says.

Ngāti Awa elder and cultural advisor Pouroto Ngaropo said this could occur if the bodies of those missing on the island, and presumed dead, have become naturally entombed on the island due to its acidic state.

If the bodies remained on the island, it became 'tapu forever more', Ngaropo said.

On Friday morning, recovery teams managed to remove six of the missing eight bodies from the island. However, two were still unaccounted for, although one had been sighted in the waters around the island.

Rescue teams returned to the waters around the island on Saturday to attempt further recoveries.

'If the bodies end up staying on Whakaari, it becomes a state of tapu, it becomes a cemetery, a living breathing ancestor that becomes a resting place for our distinguished dead.'

Whakaari White Island cultural advisor Pouroto Ngaropo says the island will become tapu if the bodies of those missing cannot be recovered.

* Whakaari/White Island: Government turns down family request to retrieve body

* Whakaari: Bedlam at Whakatāne Hospital as worker describes eruption aftermath

Whakaari/White Island was still letting off a lot of smoke on Thursday.

* Multiple casualties, multiple victims: Man who flew last survivor off Whakaari/White Island speaks

* Whakaari/White Island: Helicopter pilot said 'conditions perfect', but tremors prompt warning

* Whakaari/White Island: People 'were in real distress' says chopper pilot**

Ngāti Awa elder and spiritual advisor Pouroto Ngaropo raises questions about whether tourism on the island can continue.

Ngaropo said his personal view was that people had to look at what Whakaari was telling them.

'We need to really look and understand the ancient history of our ancestors and the stories about Whakaari.

'Whakaari mean to be seen to be revealing things unseen - to bring forth spiritual messages into the physical world. Thirty years is not long in terms of tourism, but it may be long enough in terms of Whakaari.

'She's saying, 'This could be enough, I want a rest, I don't always want to be abused because you're using me - $260 million dollars a year - Is that really the most important thing? No, it's not, it's people.'

Ngaropo said as far as the future of tourism was concerned, it came down to who was responsible.

'When we step into the domain from the human to the supernatural … we step in there knowing that Whakaari is in full control, that we are mere mortals in a domain that is spiritual and supernatural.'

Whakaari/White Island is viewed by iwi as a ancient ancestor.

There had always been a risk in venturing to the island. It had a personality of her own and was not just an island out in the Bay of Plenty, he said.

'She's a living and breathing ancestor so when she erupts, she's not in a very good state.'

Ngaropo said there would have to be a lot of discussions before any decision is made on the future of tourism on the island.

But the immediate aim was providing support to suffering families and possibly retrieving the bodies to provide them with a dignified farewell.

'This is now an international issue. It's not just a local Whakatāne issue, because it has an impact on all of us in terms of people's lives.'

He feared the dollars tourism provided for the region would win over any argument.

'From my point of view, Whakaari has spoken. She's given her message quite clearly. Are we hearing what she is saying? She's saying enough is enough. She's not saying tourism is the most important thing. It's people.

'Lives have been lost. People have died. In my view, lets not let their deaths be in vain.'