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National Party leader Judith Collins is calling on the government to launch a royal commission of inquiry into the Whakaari / White Island disaster and says she will order such an inquiry if elected.
Collins announced National’s determination to have a royal commission investigate the disaster on Wednesday, during a press conference in Wellington, where he announced an infrastructure policy.
Labor Party leader Jacinda Ardern was in the Bay of Plenty on Wednesday, meeting with first responders who dealt with the aftermath of the Whakaari / White Island explosion in December 2019.
Tours of the volcanic island were underway when it exploded, killing 21 and injuring 26 people. WorkSafe and the police, on behalf of the coroner, are investigating the deaths.
GEOFF MACKLEY
Whakaari / White Island erupted in December 2019, killing 21 people.
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“There should be a real commission on what happened on White Island, I think they need to have that level of oversight, and I think people would probably be very grateful if the prime minister announced it,” Collins said.
“If I am lucky enough to be the next prime minister, I will certainly announce it, if it is not done before then.”
Collins said an earlier investigation into the Pike River mine disaster, led by WorkSafe’s predecessor, the Department of Labor, “was not good enough.” A royal commission investigated the mine tragedy.
DAVID UNWIN / STUFF / Things
National Party leader Judith Collins says a royal commission of inquiry into the Whakaari / White Island disaster is needed. (File photo)
“I think [Whakaari/White Island] deserves it, it is a great loss of people and massive injuries to others, whose lives were saved, I think there should be [an inquiry] on him, ”he said.
Ardern, speaking earlier Wednesday, said he wanted to see the outcome of the WorkSafe investigation first.
“We still have the WorkSafe investigation ongoing, and our view is that we should let that run its course, let them do their job. And, of course, the coroner too, ”he said.
“However, it seems to me that it would duplicate much of the work and answers that those queries are likely to provide if we were to overcome.
“We will get the answers that we need and that the community wants.”
If the questions were not answered by the two inquiries, other options would be considered, Ardern said.
