Company Held Responsible for New Zealand Volcano Tragedy: White Island Verdict Reached

Whakaari Management, a company in New Zealand, has been found guilty of failing to minimize the risk to 22 individuals who lost their lives in the White Island volcano tragedy in 2019. Judge Evangelos Thomas criticized the company for its astonishing failures in managing the situation. Whakaari Management holds licenses for tours to White Island, which was actively erupting at the time of the disaster. This case is the largest legal action initiated by New Zealand's regulator Worksafe NZ. The company could face fines of up to NZ$1.5m ($928,000; £724,000). Out of the thirteen parties charged, six have pleaded guilty, while six had their charges dismissed. The judge stated that Whakaari Management had complete control over the volcano and dismissed one of the charges relating to the safety of its own workers. The company is owned by James, Andrew, and Peter Buttle, who inherited the volcano and allowed other businesses to operate tours there. Known as Whakaari in Maori, White Island had been experiencing volcanic activity since 2011 and was at Volcanic Alert Level 2 during the tragedy, indicating a moderate to heightened volcanic unrest.