Whakaari eruption: WorkSafe's ambiguity unhelpful - Ngāti Awa chair

From Checkpoint, 5:10 pm on 17 December 2019

Bad weather has hampered rescue efforts in Whakatāne for two people missing since last week's eruption on Whakaari/White Island.

Police have formally named the two missing bodies as local guide Hayden Marshall-Inman and 17-year-old Australian Winona Langford.

Winona's parents Kristine and Anthony died in the eruption while her 19-year old brother Jesse, is in hospital.

The chair of Ngāti Awa Holdings, which owns White Island Tours, has hit out at a lack of clarity over WorkSafe's auditing of the tour company.

Paul Quinn says he has already had to reassure staff after the police incorrectly announced a criminal investigation was being launched as a result of the eruption last Monday.

Sixteen people have lost their lives so far, including two White Island Tour staff.

Two other guides remain in hospital and Mr Quinn says Ngāti Awa will cooperate fully with any investigations.

RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has this story.