A recovery mission is underway on Whakaari/White Island.
About 50 whānau, friends and locals gathered at the cordon at the Whakatāne boat ramp before dawn, where their karakia and waiata rang out across the harbour.
Poppy Rika was among those gathered at the cordon this morning.
She says she recently rejected an offer for a job as a tour guide on the island -- and she was there to tautoko, or support, whanau who are going through a hard time at the moment.
RNZ reporter Katie Scotcher is in Whakatāne at the cordon.
