Press releases, updates and reaction to the deadly volcanic eruption of Whakaari/White Island on 9 December 2019.
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A minute’s silence will be observed at 2.11pm on Monday 16 December in honour of the victims of the Whakaari White
Island eruption, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed...
The minute’s silence will be exactly one week after the eruption started on Monday 9 December. More>>
15/12/2019:NZ Police - Name release - Work continues to enable recovery - Sixteenth fatality - Name Release - Update 3 - Update 2 - Update - Whakaari / White Island – return onto island - Fifteenth fatality following eruptionNational Emergency Management Agency - Volcanic eruption at Whakaari / White Island
14/12/2019:NZ Police - Name release – Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption - Dive squad continue to search waters off Whakaari - Whakaari / White Island operation continues today - UPDATE: Identification process for Whakaari / White IslandBay of Plenty Emergency Management - Seamless support for affected families goal of responsePresbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ - Presbyterian Church on the White Island tragedyTom Peters - Warnings about danger of White Island eruption were ignored
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) recovered today the bodies of six people who tragically died in Monday’s eruption
on Whakaari/White Island and will support efforts to recover the bodies of two others in the hope there is resolution
for those families...
“We cannot downplay the risk involved in this operation and I acknowledge the efforts of all those who placed themselves
potentially in danger to achieve a result for the families and community. More>>
RNZ - Live: Whakaari / White Island eruption - day 5NZ Police - Six bodies recovered from Whakaari / White Island - UPDATE 8 - UPDATE 7 - UPDATE 6 - UPDATE 5 - UPDATE 3 - UPDATE 2 - UPDATE - Whakaari / White Island body recoveryGNS Science - Shallow magma driving volcanic activity at WhakaariNgati Awa - PM pays tribute to Ngāti Awa
"I can now confirm that we are finalising a plan to recover the bodies from Whakaari / White Island tomorrow morning.
Families will be briefed on the operation at 4.30pm and Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement will speak with media in
Whakatane." More>>
NZ Police - Two further fatalities - UPDATE: Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption 11/12/19 morning - Whakaari / White Island identification and coronial process - Work continues to launch recovery efforts 11/12/19 - Sixth fatality following Whakaari / White Island eruption - Work continues on recovery - Work continues to enable recovery - Eight people unaccounted forGNS Science - Shallow magma driving volcanic activity at Whakaari - Image GNS Science maps show risk levels at White Island still high - Risk of Whakaari/White Island eruption remains high - Calculations show medium likelihood of Whakaari eruptionWorkSafe NZ - WorkSafe investigating White Island work activityTe Runanga o Ngati Awa - Ngāti Awa Rāhui
At this stage, we can confirm that amongst those currently listed as missing or injured are New Zealanders who were part
of the tour operation, and tourists from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. That is
to the best of our knowledge.
To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief at this moment in time,
and in your sorrow. Your loved ones stood alongside kiwis who were hosting you here. We grieve with you, and we grieve
with them... More>>
Ministry For Culture And Heritage - Flag half-masting directive - Whakaari White Island eruption
Adventure tourism is a central theme in New Zealand tourism, and by definition, adventure always includes a certain
level of risk. That said, New Zealand itself is also at risk of being seen as a tourism destination where commercial
factors - rather than safety factors - are routinely allowed to determine the point where the boundary line of
acceptable risk is being drawn. More>>
RNZ - Live: Whakaari / White Island eruption Day 4 - Day 3 - Day 2 - Live Updates 9/12/19The Conversation - Why White Island erupted and why there was no warning - Why were tourists allowed on White Island?Science Media Centre - White Island eruption - Expert Reaction Update - White Island eruption - Expert ReactionAssociation of Salaried Medical Specialists - Whakaari tragedy: message of support from AustraliaNZ Police - Update: Eruption on White Island - recovery operation - Update: Eruption on White Island - five people dead - Update: Eruption on White Island - one fatality confirmed - Eruption on White Island - Avoid Whakatane Heads/Muriwai DrivePhilips Search and Rescue Trust - Helicopter Trust commits all resources to White IslandSt John - Eruption response updateCivil Defence - National warning -a moderate volcanic eruption at White IslandGNS Science - Whakaari/White Island eruption - Update #1Hamilton City Council - Hamilton ready to helpNZ Red Cross - Red Cross activates Family Links website following EruptionFuneral Directors Assn of NZ - Whakaari/White Island EruptionWhite Island Tours - Whakaari/White Island EmergencyNZ Cruise Association - Statement on White Island eruptionMuslim Association - Whakaari / White Island EruptionIslamic Women's Council - Condolences to Victims of Whakaari/White Island EruptionInternational Muslim Association of NZ - A Tragedy of White Island EruptionNZ Catholic Bishops - NZ Catholic Bishops statement on Whakaari / White IslandBinoy Kampmark - Lethal Visits: Volcano Tourism and the White Island EruptionThe Scoop Team - PM's Post-Cab 9/12/19: And Then A Volcano
An eruption has occured on Whakaari / White Island in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, sending a huge plume of smoke and ash
into the sky.More>>
While it was initially believed there were approximately 100 people on or near the island at the time of the eruption,
we now believe there were fewer than 50.
Some of those people have been transported to shore, however a number believed to be on the island are currently
unaccounted for. Of those transported to shore, at least one has been critically injured. More>>
The Scoop Team - PM's Post-Cab 9/12/19: And Then A VolcanoMinistry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management - National warning -a moderate volcanic eruption at White IslandNZ Police - Avoid Whakatane Heads/Muriwai Drive