Whakaari/White Island: Six bodies taken off island, two remain

Friday, 13 December 2019

Questions need to be answered about tours on Whakaari/White Island, the prime minister says, as efforts continue to find the two bodies still missing.

Six of the eight bodies remaining on the island were recovered on Friday following an emotional morning in Whakatāne.

Deputy Commissioner John Tims announced the milestone in a statement at 11.16am. The six bodies were recovered from the island and transported on a navy vessel, the HMNZS Wellington.

It has been five days since the volcano erupted, shooting ash, rocks and toxic gas over the 47 people on the island.

**READ MORE:

* Police release first photos of body recovery operation

* The cost of being adventurous?

* Police know where six bodies are on island

* The risk of recovering bodies from the island

* Friends mourn loss of Australians killed after eruption

* Australian family mourn father and stepdaughter

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

Twenty-three people are still critical in hospitals around the country.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday was all about reuniting families with their loved ones. There was 'huge determination' to find the remaining two missing bodies.

She said nothing could ease their sense of loss or grief, but New Zealanders felt a duty of care, and she thanked those involved in the recovery.

'I can tell you from my conversation with them that they were humble people, they were true professionals.'

The focus for those who were injured was on making sure they received the best care possible, and their loved ones could be close.

'We've managed to medevac all, as I understand, but one … [Australian] back to Australia.'

She did not say if an inquiry would be launched, but said there were questions that still needed to be answered. 

'We need to look at the situation we have in front of us … and make sure we answer those questions.'

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said aerial searches of the island were being carried out on Friday afternoon to try find the two missing bodies. The team had paused about 5pm for a rest and he would 'not rule out' them resuming the search before nightfall.

A dive team had also been deployed as one body was seen in the water on Tuesday. They had made early attempts to recover it, but weather conditions prevented it.

It was not clear where the other remaining body was, he said.

'We do believe that at least one of them is in the water and the other one we are unsure, so that only leaves two possibilities … they're on the island … or they too are in the water.

'We are very focused on finding the other two and returning them to their loved ones.'

Bush praised all those involved in the recovery efforts. He said it was 'unpredictably challenging', and the staff showed 'absolute courage'.

The terrain on the island was 'rough and difficult'.

'The operation was not without risk but thanks to sound planning and the skills of the specialist team involved we have recovered the six bodies.'

The recovered bodies were transferred from the frigate to the airport, where they were put in hearses and taken to Auckland.

'We'll have a very thorough process … overseen by the coroner to identify those six.'

Bush said a return visit might need to be made to the island at some safe point to recover any other evidence that might help with identification.

'It's quite likely that forensics will enable us … to do so.'

NZDF Colonel Rian McKinstry said an eight-person bomb squad – all wearing yellow hazmat suits with hoods, and gas masks – went onto the island for about four hours. They were highly specialised and were 'very level-headed individuals'.

A second eight-person team had been on standby in case they were needed to replace the first team. 

Those involved in the operation knew the 'general area … where those persons lay', and the operation.

The conditions were 'challenging', the colonel said.

GNS Science had said there was a 6 per cent chance in any three-hour period that the volcano might erupt again.

'I want to acknowledge the efforts of all of those who have placed themselves in danger today,' the colonel said.

The conditions and terrain were difficult to traverse but they 'had planned on how we could recover the six identified deceased while minimising our time on the island'.

The NZDF personnel 'serve with a sense of duty and sense of pride in being able to help our fellow New Zealanders and the citizens of the world'.

FAMILIES RELIEVED

Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha said there were sighs of relief, joy and clapping as families found out 'their loved ones [were] coming home'.

The families of White Island Tours guides Tipene Maangi and Hayden Marshall-Inman, and those of the missing Australians shared kai and stories at Te Mānuka Tutahi Marae in Whakatane. The Australian High Commissioner also attended.

The two Kiwi families expressed their appreciation, gratitude and love, Haumaha said.

'We heard how the two boys grew up in their own way, their likes and dislikes, their idiosyncrasies.

'It was telling the stories of their life, just in a heartbeat.'

Earlier on Friday morning, fellow Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said the recovery played out as expected.

It took several hours due to the protective equipment the recovery team was wearing, which could be restrictive and heavy but was necessary.

'Everybody has a rich appreciation of the bravery at work here,' Clement said.

'POWERFUL EXPERIENCE' FOR WHĀNAU

Whānau had been out to the island to undertake a karakia and blessing.

They did not get closer to the island than a kilometre, but it was important they went out there, he said.

Mark Inman, the brother White Island Tours tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, whose body was on the island, was one of those who went out on the boat.

He described being out there as 'magic'.

The family felt 'honoured' and privileged to be allowed back to the area, Inman said.

He thanked Ngāti Awa for the opportunity and authorities for listening to the families of the deceased.

'People in the hierarchical system listened instead of following the systems and the paper trails. It's all we ask, it was beautiful.'

It was a 'very powerful' experience for families on board, he said.

'It gave all the families out there on the boat some closure.'

White Island tours chair Paul Quinn said the families truly appreciated blessing the island from the boat.

'The critical factor for them was that they were part of this process,' he said.

His focus was on supporting the families of their two tour guides who were on the boat, plus the Australian families of those remaining on the island.

They had been welcomed onto the marae and shared food and spent time together.

Quinn said the situation was tough for his staff. Many of his staff were young, in their early 20s, but handling the situation very well.

MOOD ON THE GROUND

Earlier, crowds gathered on the Whakatāne shoreline looking seaward as authorities launched their mission to retrieve bodies off Whakaari/White Island.

Military choppers were seen flying near the island at dawn on Friday, one of the first obvious signs of the recovery mission.

The whānau of Tipene Maangi, one of the missing guides presumed dead on the island, left the area upon news that family representatives had returned from the island.

Earlier one of his aunties sung a moving waiata.

Barb Phillips, of Ngāti Awa, hoped the morning of singing had helped the 'hurting' town.

'Spiritually you can feel it and it is everywhere,' she said.

But for Whakatāne resident Brian Cosgrove, the retrieval should have come sooner.

He and dog Marley were at a lookout waiting to watch the operation unfold before dawn.

'I hope they get them off, for all concerned.'

He believed the operation should have been undertaken sooner but said rescue personnel would have been hamstrung by the cautiousness of 'higher-ups'.

Down at the security cordon at the harbour, locals sang waiata to give strength to the recovery team. At the airport, two military helicopters landed then took off, heading toward Whakaari/White Island.

Vanessa Hudson, of Ngāti Awa, said iwi members gathered at dawn to show their aroha.

Sunrise was a spiritual time, she said.

'Doing it this way, our wairua and the echoes will come off the hills … and head over to Whakaari to help a safe return for the whānau.'

An aunt of Tipene Maangi, who did not want to be named, said a member of his whānau had headed out to White Island.

'It is what we have been waiting for,' she said from the cordon at Whakatāne Harbour. 'We are hoping the Whakaari lets us on to bring our baby home.'

The iwi turn out at dawn showed 'how much they are loved'.

'Everyone wants them home.'

Huia Raki, from Te Teko, was hopeful as she watched Whakaari from the lookout with her children about 6.30am as a helicopter hovered near the island.

She had earlier been at the cordon saying karakia when she saw a lone shark swimming up the river mouth, which she believed was a good sign.

'They're going to get them off I reckon. It's going to be a good day.'