White Island Tours, one of the operators which took tourists to New Zealand's Whakaari volcano, has pleaded guilty to safety failings leading up to the 2019 eruption.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The blast killed 22 people, including 14 Australians.
New Zealand's workplace safety watchdog said all but one of the dead were involved with White Island Tours: 19 were customers, visiting from Tauranga-docked cruise ship Ovation of the Seas, and two employees.
"The significance of these pleas can't be understated," Worksafe chief executive Phil Parkes said.
"The survivors and the families of those tourists and workers who died or were seriously harmed will carry this impact for the rest of their lives.
"We hope the decision of White Island Tours will provide some assurance to the survivors and family ... of those who passed that those who had a duty to ensure their safety and failed to do so are being held to account."
Of 25 other people who were injured in the eruption, 21 were on the island through White Island Tours.
In a statement to NZ media, White Island Tours director Paul Quinn said the company "deeply regretted" its role in the tragedy.
"The company's risk assessment processes did not adequately identify the risk of a significant eruption taking place without warning on Whakaari, therefore creating a risk to visitors and employee," he said.
The charges relate to safety measures in the lead-up to the eruption, and carry a maximum penalty of $NZ1.5million ($A1.4 million).
The deadly blast produced NZ's largest and most expensive workplace safety investigation, in which Worksafe brought charges against 13 individuals or organisations.
Legal complexities have delayed a trial until next month, when proceedings expected to last four months will begin in the Auckland District Court.
White Island Tours will be sentenced after the trial.
In 2022, Auckland-based scenic flight operator Inflite also pleaded guilty, ordered to pay $NZ267,500 ($A243,000) in fines and costs.
Two other government organisations, the National Emergency Management Agency and research institute GNS Science, had charges dropped last year.
GNS Science also pleaded guilty to one of its charges.
Last month Andrew, James and Peter Buttle - the owners of the volcanic island - failed to have their charges dropped.
Australian Associated Press
