First off, my sincere condolences to the families of the 22 victims who lost their lives during the 2019 eruption of Whakaari. Unfortunately, it feels like, in the quest for tourism $$, the government, as well as tour companies and officials DOWNPLAYED the potential for injury and DEATH in the case that the volcano did indeed erupt while there were people on the island.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but, IMO, a LACK of knowledge and training, caused the tour guides to NOT recognize the subtle signs that things were different on that day. The volcano gave ample warnings, i.e., the water in the streams was hotter, the water in the crater lake was white, frothy (steam venting more than usual) and still covered in ash from activity the previous few nights. A lack of an emergency plan contributed to the situation, in that, there wasn't, even a rudimentary (concrete) shelter near the area where tourists could potentially hunker down and possibly ride out such an occurrence. If you're going to put people at risk, as the one couple who survived stated, at least be sure people have a fully INFORMED consent, that, this is NOT a Disneyland ride, and if shizz goes pear shaped, you could lose your life, or have it severely changed.

Mega-Kudos to the tour boat Captain and crew for going back to get survivors from the second boat, even as the volcano was still popping off, as well as the helicopter and fixed wing pilots, who put themselves and their crafts at SEVERE risk to fly into the ash and steam cloud, find a place to land, and pick up the walking wounded, even IF some of them later succumbed to their injuries. You could literally see the trauma in their "1000 yard stares" as they shared their recollections of that fateful day.

However it's BUCKWHEATS for ANY of the Guvment' officials who refused to send additional help to rescue potential survivors, when it was obviously an "all hands to the pumps" moment. Spare us your condolences, do everyone a favor, and retire from public service, as you obviously haven't a clue as to what public "servant" actually means. SMFHID!!

....and finally, BLESSINGS to those who DID survive, who have managed to carry on in spite of the suffering they have endured. In the meanwhile, hopefully, the Māori Chief's words may bring them, as well as the friends and families of the lost, some semblance of closure, that, Whakaari called their kinfolk to join the pantheon of the ancestors, forever to be protectors and guardians of the sacred island.