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Whakaari/White Island: Volcano owner wants scientists allowed in

Broadcast United News Desk
Whakaari/White Island: Volcano owner wants scientists allowed in

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Subsea electromagnetic sensors deployed near Whakaari/White Island.

Subsea electromagnetic sensors deployed near Whakaari/White Island.
photo: Image courtesy of GNS Science

Their lawyer said the owners of Whakaari/White Island wanted to authorise GNS Science to enter the volcano and would do so immediately if the law allowed.

James Cairney, lawyer for Whakaari/White Island owners Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, responded to Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca’s statement, saying it was not allowed. Volcano monitoring Putting the public at risk.

Luca told Local Democracy Report Last week, Buttles’ company, Whakaari Management, had a “potential time bomb” that would affect everyone in the event of a major eruption.

He spoke of the potential for ash to blanket the continent, threatening lives and livelihoods.

“If they don’t monitor that risk, it’s not fair. I don’t care who owns it,” he said.

The Buttle brothers are shareholders in Whakaari Management, which Appeal against guilty verdict for health and safety offences People are allowed to go to the island. The case was filed following the December 2019 eruption of the volcano, which killed 22 people.

Cairney said the mayor had not raised the concern with the Bartell family, but the family had held discussions with GNS to try to resolve the issue.

“(The Bartels) didn’t allow anyone to go onto the island because residents there feared there was danger.

“The family’s company (which allowed access to the island) was found guilty of allowing access to the island. The matter is under appeal.

“While the family believes GNS should be able to travel to Whakaari and manage the risk to its staff themselves, the family is unsure whether they are allowed to allow GNS to do so, based on the court’s decision.

“They feel that they must be responsible for the safety of the people they allow onto the island until the legal issues are resolved and therefore cannot allow people onto the island.

“The family would be happy to grant GNS access if the law allowed it and would do so immediately.”

LDR is a local news organisation jointly funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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