Latest news with #SimonMoore
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Volcano owners' conviction over deadly eruption thrown out
The owners of a New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, have had their conviction over the disaster thrown out by the country's High Court. Whakaari Management Limited (WML) was found guilty in 2023 of failing to keep visitors safe and fined just over NZ$1m ($560,000; £445,000). They were also ordered to pay NZ$4.8m in reparation to the victims. However, following an appeal, the High Court ruled on Friday that the company only owned the land and were not responsible for people's safety. White Island, which is also known by its Māori name, Whakaari, is New Zealand's most active volcano and has been erupting in some form since 2011. It had been showing signs of heightened unrest for weeks before the fatal December 2019 eruption, which killed almost half of the people who were on it at the time. Most were tourists, including 17 from Australia and three from the US. Another 25 people were injured, with many suffering extensive burns. High Court Justice Simon Moore said on Friday that while WML licensed tours of the volcano, there was nothing in these agreements that gave the company control of what was happening on the island day to day. He agreed that it was reasonable for the company to rely on tour operators, as well as emergency management and science organisations, to assess risks to safety. Justice Moore added that, in coming to his decision, he had not ignored the pain and grief of the families that had been affected. "It is impossible not to be deeply moved and affected by the sheer scale and nature of the human loss in this case," he said. Thirteen parties in total, including tour operators, were charged over the disaster. WML was the last to receive a verdict after six had pleaded guilty, while six more had their charges dismissed. The case against WML was the largest action of its kind brought by New Zealand's regulator, Worksafe NZ, who said it acknowledged the High Court ruling and was considering whether to appeal. James Cairney, a lawyer for James, Andrew and Peter Buttle - three brothers who own the company - said the family welcomed the decision, Radio New Zealand reported. He added that the Buttles hoped it would "bring certainty for all landowners who grant others recreational access to their land". The Buttle family has owned Whakaari/White Island since the 1930s, when their grandfather bought it and placed it in a family trust. It is one of only a few privately owned islands in New Zealand. The brothers had previously been on trial in relation to the 2019 disaster as individuals over alleged breaches of New Zealand's workplace health and safety legislation. Those charges were dismissed in 2023. Millions awarded to White Island volcano victims Company found guilty over NZ volcano disaster
BBC News
28-02-2025
- BBC News
Volcano owners' conviction over deadly eruption thrown out
The owners of a New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, have had their conviction over the disaster thrown out by the country's High Court. Whakaari Management Limited (WML) was found guilty in 2023 of failing to keep visitors safe and fined just over NZ$1m ($560,000; £445,000). They were also ordered to pay NZ$4.8m in reparation to the victims. However, following an appeal, the High Court ruled on Friday that the company only owned the land and were not responsible for people's safety. White Island, which is also known by its Māori name, Whakaari, is New Zealand's most active volcano and has been erupting in some form since 2011. It had been showing signs of heightened unrest for weeks before the fatal December 2019 eruption, which killed almost half of the people who were on it at the time. Most were tourists, including 17 from Australia and three from the US. Another 25 people were injured, with many suffering extensive burns. High Court Justice Simon Moore said on Friday that while WML licensed tours of the volcano, there was nothing in these agreements that gave the company control of what was happening on the island day to day. He agreed that it was reasonable for the company to rely on tour operators, as well as emergency management and science organisations, to assess risks to safety. Justice Moore added that, in coming to his decision, he had not ignored the pain and grief of the families that had been affected. "It is impossible not to be deeply moved and affected by the sheer scale and nature of the human loss in this case," he said. Thirteen parties in total, including tour operators, were charged over the disaster. WML was the last to receive a verdict after six had pleaded guilty, while six more had their charges dismissed. The case against WML was the largest action of its kind brought by New Zealand's regulator, Worksafe NZ, who said it acknowledged the High Court ruling and was considering whether to appeal. James Cairney, a lawyer for James, Andrew and Peter Buttle - three brothers who own the company - said the family welcomed the decision, Radio New Zealand reported. He added that the Buttles hoped it would "bring certainty for all landowners who grant others recreational access to their land". The Buttle family has owned Whakaari/White Island since the 1930s, when their grandfather bought it and placed it in a family trust. It is one of only a few privately owned islands in New Zealand. The brothers had previously been on trial in relation to the 2019 disaster as individuals over alleged breaches of New Zealand's workplace health and safety legislation. Those charges were dismissed in 2023.
Saudi Gazette
28-02-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Volcano owners' conviction over deadly eruption thrown out
WELLINGTON — The owners of a New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, have had their conviction over the disaster thrown out by the country's High Court. Whakaari Management Limited (WML) was found guilty in 2023 of failing to keep visitors safe and fined just over NZ$1m ($560,000; £445,000). They were also ordered to pay NZ$4.8m in reparation to the victims. However, following an appeal, the High Court ruled on Friday that the company only owned the land and were not responsible for people's safety. White Island, which is also known by its Māori name, Whakaari, is New Zealand's most active volcano and has been erupting in some form since 2011. It had been showing signs of heightened unrest for weeks before the fatal December 2019 eruption, which killed almost half of the people who were on it at the time. Most were tourists, including 17 from Australia and three from the US. Another 25 people were injured, with many suffering extensive burns. High Court Justice Simon Moore said on Friday that while WML licensed tours of the volcano, there was nothing in these agreements that gave the company control of what was happening on the island day to day. He agreed that it was reasonable for the company to rely on tour operators, as well as emergency management and science organizations, to assess risks to safety. Justice Moore added that, in coming to his decision, he had not ignored the pain and grief of the families that had been affected. "It is impossible not to be deeply moved and affected by the sheer scale and nature of the human loss in this case," he said. Thirteen parties in total, including tour operators, were charged over the disaster. WML was the last to receive a verdict after six had pleaded guilty, while six more had their charges dismissed. The case against WML was the largest action of its kind brought by New Zealand's regulator, Worksafe NZ, who said it acknowledged the High Court ruling and was considering whether to appeal. James Cairney, a lawyer for James, Andrew and Peter Buttle - three brothers who own the company - said the family welcomed the decision, Radio New Zealand reported. He added that the Buttles hoped it would "bring certainty for all landowners who grant others recreational access to their land". The Buttle family has owned Whakaari/White Island since the 1930s, when their grandfather bought it and placed it in a family trust. It is one of only a few privately owned islands in New Zealand. The brothers had previously been on trial in relation to the 2019 disaster as individuals over alleged breaches of New Zealand's workplace health and safety legislation. Those charges were dismissed in 2023. — BBC
Sky News
28-02-2025
- Business
- Sky News
New Zealand volcano owners' conviction over deadly eruption overturned
The owners of a New Zealand volcano island where 22 tourists and local guides died in an eruption have had their criminal conviction for failing to keep visitors safe thrown out by a judge. The 2019 explosion on Whakaari, known as White Island too, also left two dozen survivors seriously injured. Most of the 47 people on the island during the explosion were US and Australian cruise ship passengers on a walking tour, along with their local guides. Today's ruling absolves the company that owns the active volcano on New Zealand's North Island, Whakaari Management, from paying millions of dollars in restitution to the families of those killed and the survivors. The company, which is run by three brothers, were found guilty in 2023 of breaching New Zealand's workplace health and safety law. But Whakaari Management appealed the conviction in a three-day hearing last October at the High Court in Auckland. The case hinged on whether the company - which granted tourism operators and scientific groups access to the volcano for a fee - should have been in charge of safety practices on the island under New Zealand's workplace health and safety laws. Anyone in charge of a workplace must ensure the management of hazards and the safety of all there, including at entry and exit points. Survivors gave emotional testimony during the 2023 trial that they had not been told the active volcano was dangerous when they paid to visit it. They were also not supplied with protective equipment, and many were wearing clothing that made their horrific burns more damaging. In Friday's written ruling, Justice Simon Moore ruled the company did not have a duty under the relevant law to ensure that the walking tour workplace was without risks to health and safety. He agreed with the company's lawyers that the firm only granted access to the bare land through permits - and should not have been legally considered an entity that managed or controlled the workplace. The judge ruled it was not unreasonable for the company to rely on tourism operators and emergency management and scientific agencies to assess the risks of activities on the island and manage safety precautions. The case had far-reaching consequences and changed the laws governing New Zealand's adventure tourism industry. Operators must now take all reasonable steps to inform customers of any serious risks. White Island, the tip of an undersea volcano also known by its Maori name Whakaari, was a popular tourist destination before the eruption.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Volcano owners' conviction over deadly eruption thrown out
The owners of a New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, killing 22 people, have had their conviction over the disaster thrown out by the country's High Court. Whakaari Management Limited (WML) was found guilty in 2023 of failing to keep visitors safe and fined just over NZ$1m ($560,000; £445,000). They were also ordered to pay NZ$4.8m in reparation to the victims. However, following an appeal, the High Court ruled on Friday that the company only owned the land and were not responsible for people's safety. White Island, which is also known by its Māori name, Whakaari, is New Zealand's most active volcano and has been erupting in some form since 2011. It had been showing signs of heightened unrest for weeks before the fatal December 2019 eruption, which killed almost half of the people who were on it at the time. Most were tourists, including 17 from Australia and three from the US. Another 25 people were injured, with many suffering extensive burns. High Court Justice Simon Moore said on Friday that while WML licensed tours of the volcano, there was nothing in these agreements that gave the company control of what was happening on the island day to day. He agreed that it was reasonable for the company to rely on tour operators, as well as emergency management and science organisations, to assess risks to safety. Justice Moore added that, in coming to his decision, he had not ignored the pain and grief of the families that had been affected. "It is impossible not to be deeply moved and affected by the sheer scale and nature of the human loss in this case," he said. Thirteen parties in total, including tour operators, were charged over the disaster. WML was the last to receive a verdict after six had pleaded guilty, while six more had their charges dismissed. The case against WML was the largest action of its kind brought by New Zealand's regulator, Worksafe NZ, who said it acknowledged the High Court ruling and was considering whether to appeal. James Cairney, a lawyer for James, Andrew and Peter Buttle - three brothers who own the company - said the family welcomed the decision, Radio New Zealand reported. He added that the Buttles hoped it would "bring certainty for all landowners who grant others recreational access to their land". The Buttle family has owned Whakaari/White Island since the 1930s, when their grandfather bought it and placed it in a family trust. It is one of only a few privately owned islands in New Zealand. The brothers had previously been on trial in relation to the 2019 disaster as individuals over alleged breaches of New Zealand's workplace health and safety legislation. Those charges were dismissed in 2023. Millions awarded to White Island volcano victims Company found guilty over NZ volcano disaster
