Everyone involved in the tourism industry will need to manage risk differently after a court found the landowners of Whakaari/White Island guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Thirteen parties face criminal charges in the wake of the 2019 Whakaari White Island eruption. Among them is a research organisation, which underlines the perils of natural hazard risk communication.
Shane Cronin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Charges regarding last year’s fatal Whakaari/White Island eruption should not be about blame, but about improving hazard warnings and enforcement, particularly for sites with a history of eruptions.
The tragedy at Whakaari/White Island highlights the need for consent forms to ensure tourists are fully informed when choosing to visit dangerous locations.