Some of the people who were on Whakaari/White Island were passengers from the cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, which was docked in Tauranga for the day.
When the ship was due to leave port, the captain announced guests and crew from the boat were on a tour to White Island when the volcano had erupted.
A short time later, a roll call of names was played.
ABC journalist Donna Field was onboard the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship at the time.
She speaks to Kim Hill.
