Whakaari/White Island: Search for bodies continues, questions around island's future
Friday, 13 December 2019
As officials race to recover the bodies of the last two people on Whakaari/White Island, what lies ahead for families and the island itself?
The recovery
Military choppers could be seen flying near the island at dawn on Friday - one of the first signs of the recovery mission.
The recovery operation was behind schedule due to the protective equipment the recovery team was wearing which was restrictive and heavy - but necessary.
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By 11.16am, Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims announced the recovery operation had been successful.
The team spent around four hours on the island. GNS Science told them there was a 6 per cent chance in any three-hour period that the volcano might erupt again.
During a press conference at 1.30pm, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said they would do aerial searches of the island on Friday afternoon to try and locate the missing two bodies.
One was believed to be in the water but it was not clear where the other body is.
Families had also gone to the island to undertake a karakia, but did not get closer than 1 kilometre.
Where are the recovered bodies going?
When the bodies were recovered, they were flown off Whakaari/White Island by helicopter onto naval vessel, HMNZS Wellington.
They would be taken to the Whakatāne airport where they would be put in hearses and taken to Auckland.
Bush said there was a process when it came to identifying the bodies, which would be overseen by the coroner.
But he could not say for sure the bodies would be identified.
'I'd like to say yes, and in all likelihood the answer is yes, but it would be very irresponsible of me to give a solid answer. In these circumstances … we normally do ensure that we identify every victim.'
Some families are making arrangements to go to Auckland to greet the bodies there.
What happens if the two other bodies are not found?
A rāhui had been placed on Whakaari/White Island but was temporarily lifted for the recovery operation.
Ngāti Awa elder and cultural adviser Pouroto Ngaropo said if the two bodies could not be recovered, the island would be 'tapu forever more'.
'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.'
People had to look at what Whakaari was telling them, he said.
'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.'
'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,' Ngaropo said.
What investigations are happening?
Police would be investigating the deaths at Whakaari/White Island on behalf of the coroner and WorkSafe had launched a health and safety investigation.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were were questions around the tour that must be answered and this would occur through these investigations.