- Title: Local Maori leader says White Island volcano tragedy "sad time" for New Zealand
- Date: 10th December 2019
- Summary: WHAKATANE, NEW ZEALAND (DECEMBER 10, 2019) (REUTERS) WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, POUROTO NGAROPO, LOOKING ON NGAROPO LOOKING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, POUROTO NGAROPO, SAYING: "2:15 PM yesterday, Whakaari exploded. And those that were unfortunately here at the time, they were hurt, compromised. Some died. And it's a really, sad, sad time, for all of us, across the world. We acknowledge all of the support that's coming from overseas, from everywhere. VARIOUS OF NGAROPO LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, POUROTO NGAROPO, SAYING: "The rÄhui protects the spirituality of those who are dead, and also says that at this time, we can't do the normal things we do, like going and fishing. But for a short period of time, rÄhui enables us to do what we need to do to get the dead off the island, and also make sure that the work that needs to be done is done." SMOKE RISING FROM VOLCANO TREES/VOLCANO BOATS AT HARBOUR WHITE ISLAND TOURS BOAT AT DOCK (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, POUROTO NGAROPO, SAYING: "Whakaari is not only a living, breathing being, ancestor, but to others, she is also an icon. I mean, this is the tourist icon, this is the doorway to the tourism of the Bay of Plenty here too. You know, so there's the tourism part of Whakaari, there's also the education part, the cultural experience as well. And the bringing together of people, which is the one that I really love. The bringing together of people through knowing her history and her story. So, you know, those are the reasons that people were going out yesterday to make contact, and to make connections to her." VARIOUS OF WHITE ISLAND TOURS BOAT AT DOCK POSTER ADVERTISING "THE WHITE ISLAND EXPERIENCE" TO TOUR VOLCANO BANNER READING (English): "WHAKATANE GATEWAY TO WHITE ISLAND" VARIOUS OF POLICE CORDON AND FLOWERS ON GATE
- Embargoed: 24th December 2019 11:32
- Keywords: New Zealand Pouoto Ngaropo White Island eruption maori volcano
- Location: WHAKATANE, NEW ZEALAND
- City: WHAKATANE, NEW ZEALAND
- Country: New Zealand
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Earthquakes/Volcanoes/Tsunami
- Reuters ID: LVA001B9E5P3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Local Maori community leader Pouroto Ngaropo said on Tuesday (December 10) the recent White Island volcano eruption that killed six people was a "sad" time for New Zealand.
Ngaropo said he had performed a rÄhui - a traditional Maori ritual that would, according to Ngaropo, "enable us to do what we need to do to get the dead off the island, and also make sure that the work that needs to be done is done."
He reiterated that Whakaari -- the Maori name for the volcano -- is a living, breathing being, and an ancestor that "brings people together".
Search parties were unable to set foot on the volcanic island as eight people were still missing on Tuesday.
Police said 47 people were on White Island at the time of the eruption.
(Production: James Redmayne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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