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A petition launched to stop the prosecution of two helicopter pilots involved in the Whakaari / White Island rescue mission last December received massive support online.
The petition on Change.org, titled “Stop Prosecution of Helicopter Pilots Who Saved Lives in Whakaari / White Island,” is addressed directly to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and refers to two helicopter pilots based in the Bay of Plenty.
Whakatane-based Kahu NZ CEO Mark Law and Rotorua Volcanic Air Chief Helicopter Director / Pilot Tim Barrow spoke this week about the allegations WorkSafe brought them in connection with the events of last year.
The Whakaari / White Island volcano erupted on December 9 with 47 people on the island and 22 people lost their lives. Read here to see original images of the eruption.
Several more were seriously injured.
This week, WorkSafe confirmed that 13 parties would face charges related to the tragedy.
While WorkSafe did not name any, both Law and Barrow have waived anonymity, confirming that their respective companies are among those charged.
Law and Barrow were two of the helicopter pilots who responded to the incident and have been recognized for their efforts to save lives.
The couple, along with several other commercial contractors, coordinated a rescue operation as emergency services deemed the area unsafe.
The petition was created on Change.org on Thursday afternoon by Auckland’s Ned Dawson and has already received more than 30,000 signatures.
In his post on Change.org, Dawson comments that Law and Barrow “personify the kiwi spirit” and should not be “hung to dry” for the charges against them.
Dawson wants the government, namely Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to “drop the charges” and instead “acknowledge the extraordinary efforts” of Law, Barrow and others on the day in question.
The official statement from WorkSafe this week confirmed that “no enforcement action will be taken” regarding the rescue and recovery operation.
Instead, the charges relate to the events that led to the eruption and the act of bringing tourists to the island.
“We investigated whether those who were involved in bringing tourists to the island were meeting their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 2015,” WorkSafe CEO Phil Parkes said Monday.
“We consider that these 13 parties did not comply with those obligations. Now it is up to the judicial system to determine whether or not they did. WorkSafe cannot comment on matters in front of the court. “
The charges in the case could carry maximum fines of $ 1.5 million or $ 300,000, depending on the charge and the specific section of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that was violated.
