Company which ‘owned’ volcano found guilty of ‘major failure’ after 22 killed

A New Zealand company which ‘owned’ an active volcano where 22 people were killed during a deadly eruption in 2019 has been found to have breached safety regulations. 

A court in Auckland found that the management firm failed in duty to ensure the safety of visitors to White Island, also known as Whakaari.

The eruption left another 25 people injured.

The judge ruled that Whakaari Management Ltd had failed to complete the necessary risk assessment despite a visit coming three years after an eruption.

Judge Evangelos Thomas branded the failure to carry out the risk assessment as a “major failure”.

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Judge Thomas said: “It was a reasonably practicable step it should have taken to ensure it met its duty.”

The court dismissed a second charge against the safety of workers on the island.

The trial ran for three months heard cases brought by regulators against 13 defendants 

Of these six have pleaded guilty while another six had their charges thrown out.

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Whakaari Management Ltd was the final defendant to go before the court.

The firm operates as a holding company for the island’s landowners Peter, Andrew and James Buttle.

Three companies offering helicopter trips, one offering boat tours, and one offering scenic flights have previously admitted guilt.

They are scheduled to be sentenced in February and face a maximum fine of NZ$1.5 million (£720,000).

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