Reaction to today's verdict for defendants in the Whakaari / White Island trial has been mixed from family of some of those killed and injured in the eruption.
Whakaari Management Limited (WML), which was directed by the three brothers who own the island, was found guilty of one health and safety charge laid in the wake of the December 2019 White Island eruption which killed 22 people and left dozens more seriously injured. A second charge against WML was dismissed.
Avey Woods, the mother of tour guide Hayden Marshall Inman who died in the eruption, said it was "very emotional". Her son's body was never found.
"We feel like we're not sitting around waiting for something — we've had an answer today which means we can move forward. We know that Whakaari has spoken."
At Ōhope Beach, there's a bench for Hayden, but his family knows he will never sit there.
Mark Inman's brother Hayden was among the 22 people who died on Whakaari. His body was never found. (Source: Breakfast)
His brother Mark Inman said they were "a pretty lucky family to have a kaitiaki of Whakaari and have somewhere pleasant to sit and remember loved ones you've lost".
"At the end of the day there's a whole lot of money being spent on court cases and lawyers and everything else but has it really had an impact moving forward on how we shape our future in New Zealand?" he said.
1News spoke to several of the victims who were badly burned in the eruption. Many are still facing surgeries, four years later. They spoke of putting the eruption behind them and trying to get on with normal life.
The majority of those who died were Australian.
Gavin Dallow and his stepdaughter Zoe were among the dead. Sister Meredith Dallow said she was "relieved and thankful" that there had been a verdict.
"Justice at long last," she said.
She said it had been a long time coming and an emotional rollercoaster for her family.
"Today's been a really good outcome. They fought the charges the whole way."
Gavin's wife and Zoe's mum Lisa survived with serious burns.
Many of the Australian victims returned to New Zealand last year for the first time since the eruption. Among them was Jesse Langford, who lost his parents and sister.
Mark Inman said he was "a top bloke and determined to move forward and get on with his life and I think that's what we all need to be doing".
The fourth anniversary of the eruption is just weeks away, but in February, the next step in court will be sentencing.
James Cairney, the defence lawyer for WML, said he needed to speak to his clients before commenting on today's decision.
"My clients' hearts go out to the victims and always have," he said.
"Our hearts absolutely go out to the people that have lost their lives and lost loved ones."
He said the trial has been "incredibly stressful" for the Buttle brothers.
"They've never commented on that, their hearts have always one out because, whatever the stress and impact has been on them, it's absolutely nothing when compared to the impact on the people that have lost their loved ones.
"This isn't a happy case, there are no winners from matters like this," Cairney said.
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