NZ government agency pleads not guilty in White Island volcanic eruption case
New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency pleaded not guilty at a pre-trial hearing for the White Island volcanic eruption tragedy.
The government agency is one of 13 defendants in the case but the only one to submit a plea.
Defendants include government agencies, White Island Tours, Volcanic Air Safaris and three members of the Buttle family, which owns the island.
Twenty-two people died when the volcano erupted in 2019.
Most were taking part in a shore excursion from Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas ship.
Other pleas will be entered at another hearing by late August.
The case was brought by Worksafe New Zealand and defendants face various charges with millions in fines possible if convicted.
"We investigated whether those with any involvement in taking tourists to the island were meeting their obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. We consider that these 13 parties did not meet those obligations. It is now up to the judicial system to determine whether they did or not," said Phil Parkes, CEO of Worksafe NZ.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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