Charges Laid Over NZ Volcano Catastrophe
Thirteen parties have been charged over the deaths of 22 people during a volcanic eruption on a New Zealand island in 2019.
The charges by New Zealand's workplace safety watchdog follow a major probe into the eruption of the Whakaari volcano.
The blast, which claimed 14 Australian lives, happened as tours to White Island were taking place and despite warnings of a heightened risk of eruption.
"This deeply tragic event was unexpected. That does not mean it was unforeseeable," WorkSafe NZ chief executive Phil Parkes said.
"There were 47 people on the island at the time of the eruption, all of whom suffered serious injuries and trauma."
A number of organisations have revealed they are among those charged, including government bodies GNS Science and kynghidongduong.vn the National Emergency Management Agency.
GNS Science said it had yet to learn of the nature of the charges but "stand by our people and our science - which we will continue to deliver for the benefit of NZ".
White Island Tours owner Paul Quinn said the company had been served with two breaches.
Volcanic Air director Tim Barrow told the Rotorua Daily Post it was also one of the organisations charged.
Ten organisations have been charged with breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act, and could face fines of up to $NZ1.5 million ($A1.4 million).
A further three individuals have been charged as directors or individuals who failed to meet health and safety obligations.
The parties were not named because under NZ law, they have the right to seek suppression of their names in their first court appearance on December 15.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the transparency from the government agencies, but said she would leave the case to the courts.
"We need this to be an independent process that people can have trust confidence and faith in," she said.
Mr Parkes said the investigation was the largest and most complex investigation in WorkSafe's history.
The probe is looking only at organisations involved in the tourism operations, rather than the rescue operation.
On top of the WorkSafe investigation, New Zealand Police is conducting an investigation on behalf of the coroner.
An Australian legal action is also being brought against Royal Caribbean, the company which operated the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, which offered the Tour du thuyền Hạ Long giá rẻ to its guests.
Last week, Horst Westenfelder became the latest casualty from the blast, dying in an overseas hospital as a result of complications from surgery.
The eruption took place during a spell of heightened "level two" volcanic unrest, as measured by NZ's official seismic monitoring agency GNS Science.
No tourism has occurred on the offshore volcano, found 50km north of Whakatane to the northeast of New Zealand's North Island, since the tragedy.
The charges have been laid just nine days before the anniversary of the blast, which Ms Ardern said would be an emotional occasion.
"At this time I know all New Zealanders thoughts are with the families and those who experienced loss or injury," she said.
"There is no easy process from here, but it is the job of WorkSafe to make sure that if there are questions to be answered that they play a role leading the charge."
