2020 Vote: National Leader Judith Collins Wants Royal Commission of Inquiry into Whaakari / White Island Disaster

National leader Judith Collins says she would launch a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Whakaari / White Island disaster that killed 21 people from four countries.

“I think he deserves it, it’s a huge loss of people and huge injuries to other people whose lives were saved. I think there should be one. I think it’s something New Zealanders would want to see,” Collins said.

There were 47 people at the Bay of Plenty volcano on December 9 when it erupted. Of them, 21 people died.

Dozens more suffered life-changing injuries, many spent months in the hospital and required surgery and skin grafts for their horrible burns.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, when asked about the convening of a Royal Commission, said she did not want to duplicate WorkSafe and coroner investigations into the disaster.

“We will get the answers we need and what the community wants and needs as well.”

But Collins said Ardern “may want” to wait for the findings of those investigations, but should “tell the people involved and the families why.”

Collins said that if a Royal Commission had not been announced, she would announce one at the beginning of the term if she were elected prime minister.

Collins compared Whakaari to the Pike River mine explosion, which killed 29 people and was examined by a Royal Commission after a WorkSafe investigation.

Collins said the magnitude of the eruption warranted a Royal Commission.

“I think people want answers. People want answers about how this could happen and they also want answers about the answers.

“[People] they are very concerned that there may not be as robust an investigation as might be expected. “