Explainer | White Island: why were tourists allowed to visit New Zealand volcano?

New Zealand promotes itself as the adventure capital of the world but there is a fine balance between providing excitement and the safety of those involved

Perhaps it is time for the tourism industry, government and volcanic experts to review current rules. We can minimise the risk, but never totally rule it out

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Bouquets of flowers sit on one of the two tour boats that went to White Island. Photo: AP

Published: 12:30pm, 11 Dec 2019Updated: 11:05pm, 11 Dec 2019

The official death toll remains at six, and eight people are still missing, presumed to have died in yesterday’s volcanic eruption at White Island, known by the Māori as Whakaari.

The people on the island were tourists and tour guides, including visitors from Australia, the UK, China and Malaysia, along with New Zealanders. Several of the tourists were passengers from the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas.

GeoNet, which operates a geological hazard monitoring system, says there is a 50 per cent chance of a smaller or similar eruption taking place within the next 24 hours. The volcanic alert level remains at three, one rung higher than it was when the eruption took place.

But the question being asked now is why tourists were allowed on such a dangerous island. This will probably feature prominently in investigations – both by police and WorkSafe.

Safety guidelines for volcano tours

White Island is privately owned, and only permitted operators are allowed to take tourists on guided tours. White Island Tours is one of the main operators in Whakatane, a township on the east coast of the North Island, and they had people on the island yesterday.

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