White Island Tours, one of the defendants in the WorkSafe/Whakaari trial, has pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The trial is due to start in three weeks, but at today’s case review hearing, lawyers for the iwi-owned business surprised many by entering guilty pleas. The charges relate to having staff and tourists on the island in the lead up to the fatal eruption in December 2019 and carry maximum penalty of a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.
At the time of the eruption there three White Island Tours boats either at the island, or returning to the mainland.
Of the 22 people who died, 19 were customers of White Island Tours and two were employees. A further 19 customers and two staff survived, but were injured.
WorkSafe chief executive Phil Parkes said "the significance of these pleas can’t be understated".
"The survivors and the families of those tourists and workers who died or were seriously harmed will carry this impact for the rest of their lives.
"We hope the decision of White Island Tours will provide some assurance to the survivors and family and whānau of those who passed that those who had a duty to ensure their safety and failed to do so are being held to account."
The tourism business was brought by Ngāti Awa in 2017 to expand its asset base and create employment for iwi members.
It was one of 13 parties initially charged, but now three have pleaded guilty and one has had charges dismissed. It brings the number of defendants in the trial to nine, including the three brothers who own the island.
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