Why no inquiry into the tragedy on Whakaari?

On December 9, 2019, Whakaari/White Island erupted suddenly and violently. Several groups of guided visitors totalling 47 people were on the island with many close to the erupting vent and others on boats nearby. By the end of the day, five persons were known to have been killed, 34 were rescued by boat or helicopter (many critically injured) and eight were declared missing (although known to be on the island and dead).

The final toll was 22 deaths. Many others were left with significant health issues and associated disabilities.

Twenty-nine disasters have occurred in New Zealand over the past 100 years where 10 or more people died. Dominating the list are the Erebus disaster (257) and the Napier earthquake (256), with the Whakaari/White Island eruption ranking in 13th position behind the Pike River Mine tragedy (29) and the Kaimai air crash (23).

What is very significant with all of these disasters is that the government of the time promptly initiated a rigorous and independent public inquiry. These inquiries critically examined the disaster, what happened, why it happened, how we responded and most importantly, what we learned. The proceedings were open to the public and the findings and recommendations were published and available to all interested parties.

An example is the Ballantyne’s fire (41), which recently recorded its 75th anniversary.

The inquiry that followed this disaster identified deficiencies in our fire risk reduction, preparedness and firefighting capability. From the Ballantyne’s fire to the Pike River Mine explosion we were able to learn important lessons to reduce the likelihood of such a disaster happening again and improve our readiness and response if it did.

The Whakaari/White Island eruption, however, is unique in our history of disasters and the inquiries that have always followed. As incredible as it may seem, there has not been a formal and independent public inquiry held into this disaster and the Government has steadfastly refused to hold one.

This refusal is based on flawed reasoning.

It was apparent some six months after the eruption that the Government was not going to hold an inquiry into the eruption. Letters to emergency services asking for an inquiry all resulted in a “not my responsibility” response. Subsequent letters to ministers of the agencies stated that there were two inquiries already underway, one by WorkSafe and one would be undertaken by the Chief Coroner. Even the Prime Minister stuck to the party political line and also insisted inquiries were under way and were being undertaken by WorkSafe and the Coroner.

Letters and evidence to the ministers and Prime Minister pointed out that Worksafe was only seeking to prosecute those who were permitting or running tours to the island for breaches of rules and regulations relating to their operations.

These would include such administrative misdemeanours as not having a current permit, maybe no first aid kit, perhaps not warning their clients of the significant risks of being on the island, etc.

It is timely to remember that these were largely the same people and organisations who, on their own initiative and with great skill and bravery, undertook the rescue and recovery of the injured well before any emergency service got organised.

In turn, the Coroner’s inquiry will ultimately be held to determine the date and cause of death of the deceased. However, this will not happen until late 2024 when WorkSafe has completed its “rules and regulations” prosecutions.

It has been pointed out to the ministers and the Prime Minister neither WorkSafe nor the Coroner intend to, or even have any mandate to, determine why the disaster itself occurred and what we could learn from the tragedy. Even a subsequent petition to Parliament calling for an inquiry was voted down by the Labour majority on the same fundamental falsehoods that WorkSafe and the Coroner were undertaking this important task.

It seems that this government and its officials are very determined that 100 years of learning from such tragic events shall not happen for the Whakaari/White Island disaster.

They are content to see prosecutions based upon breaches of regulations and for the Coroner to determine the place and time of death but are not interested to learn what went wrong.

This is not good enough and is disrespectful to the memory of the 22 people who lost their lives.

This Labour government promised openness and honesty but refuses this duty and the obligation to the victims and their loved ones.

Three years on, many questions remain as to why there is no government-sponsored inquiry into the eruption and the response.