NZ was supposed to learn from the Pike River Mine disaster. Then White Island erupted

As survivors of the White Island volcanic eruption gave evidence at the criminal trial over the disaster, there was a common refrain — they were in New Zealand and thought they would be safe.

But beyond the defendants, this case has once again brought New Zealand's track record of workplace accidents into sharp focus because before White Island, there was the Pike River Mine disaster. Ms Osborne is among a group of Pike River families calling for New Zealand to introduce corporate manslaughter charges."They must think what a joke the New Zealand criminal law system is because there is no real punishment," she said.

On Tuesday Judge Evangelos Thomas will decide if the final defendant Whakaari Management Limited breached its duty of care.Of the five parties that pleaded guilty, one was the actual tour operator that walked tourists onto the volcano — White Island Tours. The fatal explosions led to a royal commission, which found the deaths of the 29 miners were entirely preventable.

"They are not managing risks that arise from their work and are not keeping people safe," the regulator said. Greg Moody lost his cousin Gavin Dallow on White Island and followed along as five of the six defendants that went to trial had charges against them dismissed. "There is no evidence of what discussions there may have been among the Buttles that touches on their circumstances and their responsibilities," he said.The Whakaari White Island trial has heard there was a 5 per cent chance multiple people would die during tours."When Pike River happened, they were going to change the face of workplace health and safety," he told the ABC.

"Now, if it's a small company, like the company that operated White Island, it might not have the deep pockets that would mean you could recover damages from the company. "Because I suppose, if you follow the logic, the incentives to take care aren't the same when there's no risk of being sued by victims," she said.

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