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Helicopter operators plead guilty in New Zealand volcano tragedy hearing

Three helicopter tour operators — Volcanic Air Safaris, Kahu NZ and Aerius — pleaded guilty Friday in Auckland District Court to safety breaches over the White Island volcano eruption in December 2019.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

July 8, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Inflite Charters, which promoted and sold subcontracted tours, and the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences pleaded guilty earlier this year.

The judge-only trial was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a hearing was set for July 10.

Six more defendants

Six other defendants including ID Tours, the Tauranga Tourism Services and the owners of White Island, James, Peter and Andrew Buttle, will appear at the proceedings starting Monday and each face massive fines.

The charges have been brought about by the country’s safety watchdog WorkSAFE New Zealand.

As previously reported, passengers from Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas were on a day trip to the island when the volcano erupted. Many died and others suffered horrific burns.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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