New Zealand: White Island Volcano Victims Awarded $6.2 Million in Court Decision

Off the coast of New Zealand's North Island, an enormous volcanic explosion on White Island killed 22 people and injured others over four years ago. Victims and their families have now been granted a sum of around NZ$10 million, or approximately $6.2 million, in accordance with a court's ruling.

The court documents revealed that White Island Tours, Volcanic Air Safaris, Kahu New Zealand, and Aerius, in addition to Whakaari Management Ltd, the corporate owner of the island, had failed to adequately guarantee the safety of the tourists.

(Photo: Phil Walter / Getty Images)
White Island was pictured on December 08, 2020, off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand. 22 people died following the Whakaari White Island volcano eruption on 9 December 2019. The volcano erupted while 47 people were on the island – including several tour groups and their guides. The 22 victims were from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, China, Britain and Malaysia.

Court Ruling

When the volcano erupted on December 9, 2019, 47 individuals were on White Island, which is also called Whakaari by the Māori. Ash and scorching gas injured many of the survivors. Tourists from nations including Malaysia, Australia, and the United States made up the bulk of the casualties.

In his ruling on Friday, March 1, in the District Court of Auckland, Judge Evangelos Thomas imposed monetary compensation of NZ$4.88 million (over $2.97 million) on Whakaari Management, NZ$5 million (over $3 million) on White Island Tours, and NZ$330,000 (over $200,800) on Volcanic Air Safaris, as reported by The Guardian.

During the hearing, the prosecutor for workplace regulator Worksafe said that the tour operators had admitted they could not afford to pay the fines, but they urged that the court should still apply financial penalties nonetheless.

Flawed Evaluations

According to Thomas, the tour operators did risk assessments but were extremely poor.

The court ruled that tour operators did not sufficiently warn their paying clients about an eruption's dangers and potential outcomes since the safety information they gave was completely lacking.

Judgment wording indicated that all involved firms were in some state of liquidation, were no longer trading, had poor financial standing, or lacked assets.

The verdict noted that although White Island Tours and Volcanic Air Safaris had insurance policies with coverage of NZ$5 million and NZ$300,000, respectively, for victim reparations, it seemed that none of the companies could afford to pay the full penalties and compensation.