For court released information, please visit the District Court website(external link)
The trial for parties facing WorkSafe New Zealand charges related to the Whakaari-White Island tragedy has concluded at the Specialist Courts and Tribunals Centre in Auckland.
WorkSafe originally charged 13 individuals and companies in 2020(external link) for health and safety failings prior to the volcanic eruption in the Bay of Plenty in December 2019(external link) that killed 22 people.
A number of parties pleaded guilty or had charges dismissed, prior to the judge-alone trial, which began on 11 July 2023.
During the trial, defendants Peter Buttle, Andrew Buttle and James Buttle each had one charge dismissed on 5 September 2023.
I D Tours and Tauranga Tourism Ltd each had one charge dismissed on September 12, 2023.
At the conclusion of the trial on 21 September 2023, one defendant remained – Whakaari Management Limited.
On 31 October 2023 Judge Evangelos Thomas found Whakaari Management Limited guilty of the charge under Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the company was convicted. The charge under Section 36 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 was dismissed. For Judge Thomas’ full trial Judgement, please visit the District Court website(external link).
Sentencing for all guilty parties is scheduled to begin on 26 February 2024.