New Zealand marks volcano tragedy as more dead named

Investigations into the incident could take a year

Family returns from the Frigate HMNZS Wellington where they observed a minutes silence near White Island in Whakatane, New Zealand. Getty Images

Family disembark from a speedboat after being on the HMNZS Wellington where they observed a minutes silence near White Island in Whakatane, New Zealand. Getty Images

The Police National Dive Squad near White Island in Whakatane, New Zealand. Getty Images

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern observes a minute of silence for victims of the White Island tragedy during a cabinet meeting in Wellington, New Zealand. EPA

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (R) and deputy Winston Peters (L) observe a minute of silence for victims of the White Island tragedy during a cabinet meeting in Wellington, New Zealand. EPA

Members of the Cabinet observe a minute of silence for victims of the White Island tragedy during a cabinet meeting in Wellington, New Zealand. EPA

Family walks with a police officer, New Zealand. Getty Images

Family member thanks the Police National Dive Squad near White Island in Whakatane, New Zealand. Getty Images

New Zealand marked one week since the deadly White Island eruption with a minute's silence on Monday.

The act of recognition comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned grieving families they face a lengthy wait for answers.

At 2.11pm (5.11am UAE), exactly a week since the eruption, offices and shops fell silent as New Zealanders remembered the 16 international tourists and two local guides who died at the volcano, along with at least 18 more now receiving intensive treatment for severe burns.

Flags flew at half-mast outside Wellington's distinctive "Beehive" parliament building, while inside Ms Ardern suspended a cabinet meeting and stood head bowed to reflect quietly on the disaster.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the families of those who have passed and those who are injured," she said.

A total of 47 day-trippers and guides were on the island at the time, hailing from Australia, the United States, Britain, China, Germany, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Whakatane mayor Judy Turner said authorities took grieving families out on boats to within a safe distance of the volcanic island to mark the event.

The prime minister has stated that it will take time to determine why tour operators were allowed to take travellers onto the rim of an active volcano just days after scientists had raised its eruption threat level.

She said officials had advised her that a probe by workplace regulator WorkSafe New Zealand may take a year and a separate coronial inquiry was "also likely to continue for some time".

"As we've seen, inquiries can sometimes take more than that time, so it's not for me to judge whether that's an appropriate time frame," Ms Ardern said.

Under New Zealand workplace law, individuals can face a maximum of three years imprisonment for reckless conduct resulting in death, while companies can be fined NZ$3.0 million (Dh7.27m).

The country also has a scheme called the Accident Compensation Commission, which covers victims' medical bills and provides modest compensation but does not allow civil suits seeking multi-million dollar damages payouts.

Ms Ardern denied this had promoted a dangerous culture in New Zealand's adventure tourism sector.

Another four victims have been been identified as Australians - Jessica Richards, 20, Jason David Griffiths, 33, Martin Berend Hollander, 48, and Kristine Elizabeth Langford, 45.

Special forces troops retrieved six bodies from the island last Friday but the remains of two people have still not been found.

Police commissioner Mike Bush said the bodies were believed to be in the water off of White Island, so helicopters and divers would be deployed to search.

Many of those affected were passengers on the cruise liner Ovation of the Seas, which berthed in Sydney early on Monday.