Whale Island tours resume
TAURANGA: White Island Tours has started taking people to Moutohora/ Whale Island for the first time since the Whakaari/White Island eruption five weeks ago.
White Island Tours, which had been running boatloads of people to both islands, suspended operations after the eruption on Whakaari on December 9, which is believed to have killed 20 people, including tourists and some of the company's tour guides.
Moutohora, or Whale Island, was never off limits after the eruption, but tours were halted out of respect for the victims, staff and affected families.
Moutohora is about 10km off the coast of Whakatane, while Whakaari/ White Island is 40km further out.
White Island Tours said it was restarting tours to Moutohora, which it said was a sombre occasion but a positive step forward for providing employment for its staff.
The island has some volcanic activity, including hot springs, and is a pestfree, wildlife management reserve for endangered birds and plants.
There has been no decision on whether tours to Whakaari will resume.
Camera feeds showing volcanic conditions on Whakaari were yesterday made available to the public again for the first time since a major eruption in early December.
Gas and steam continues to emit from the volcano, but it has not erupted since December 9, although GNS Science has warned the risk of eruption remains.
GNS volcanologist Brad Scott said the eruption did not affect the equipment.
‘‘It was all working the whole time, but due to sensitivities some of the information wasn't being pushed through to the public, but we're now putting everything back through to the public.
‘‘It was just in respect for the families, particularly the web camera images.’’
Mr Scott said another eruption was possible, but unlikely within the next four weeks.