WELLINGTON: The New Zealand firm that managed a volcanic island which erupted killing 22 people in 2019, was on Tuesday found guilty of failing to adequately protect visitors. A court in Auckland found Whakaari Management failed to “assess risk” to visitors sufficiently or provide them with protective equipment. The management company was the last of 13 individuals and organisations originally charged over the disaster. Whakaari Management — which granted permits to visit the island — will be sentenced next February with six other parties who pleaded guilty. The guilty parties face fines of up to NZ$1.5 million (US$876,652).

Source: Stuff October 31, 2023 08:14 UTC