Charter company fined over safety breaches on New Zealand White Island

A New Zealand charter company has been fined $227,500 for health and safety breaches on the Whakaari/White Island.

The December 2019 Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption killed 22 people, including 14 Australians.

The company was sentenced at the Auckland District Court on Thursday. The court also ordered the company to pay prosecution costs of $40,000.

"It’s encouraging to see Inflite Charters Limited plead guilty at this reasonably early stage in the court process and take accountability for not doing enough to keep people safe,” says WorkSafe Chief Executive Phil Parkes.

“While Inflite Charters Limited didn’t have customers on Whakaari/White Island when it erupted, it had facilitated a tour earlier in the day. It very easily could have been their customers killed or harmed if the eruption had happened at a different time.

“This is a clear reminder to all businesses that they are responsible for keeping people healthy and safe from when work is planned to when the work concludes – not just when the activity is happening.”

View the original story on the WorkSafe New Zealand website.