As the recovery mission on Whakaari gets underway, one of the pilots who rescued people after the eruption says weather conditions are good and he expects the operation to be wrapping up about midday.
Only the NZ Defence Force is on the mission but helicopter pilot Mark Law has been assisting police with his local aviation knowledge and the location of the eight bodies. Photo: Supplied / Kahu New Zealand
One of the pilots who rescued people after the eruption, Mark Law of Kāhu NZ has been involved in planning the recovery mission.
He told Morning Report there was enough pressure "coming on from lots of different folks" that led to the recovery operation finally going ahead.
He couldn't say if helicopters would land on the island or give any more details around the operation.
But police this morning did confirm that the recovery team undertaking the operation had landed on the island.
"I think it's a good plan for the situation. I'm pretty confident by the looks of things and how it's all been put together. Everything seems to be ticking off so far. So, good news at this time."
Read more on the Whakaari/White Island eruption:
- Follow RNZ's live blog for the latest
- Whakaari / White Island eruption: how it unfolded
- Recovery mission: 'we have a plan'
- The beauty and the menace of Whakaari
Law said he assisted police with his local aviation knowledge and the location of the eight bodies because he had spent some time on the island right after Monday's eruption.
For the moment it is only Defence Force pilots on the mission, but Law said he was on standby if need be.
"They should be able to get the entire operation done without us."
About 50 whānau, friends and members of the local community gathered for a karakia at the cordon at the Whakatāne Boat Ramp. Photo: RNZ/Katie Scotcher
"We're all here to do our job and help where we can" - Mark Law
Earlier Law suggested it could take 20 minutes to retrieve the bodies, but police say it could take several hours - that's because evidence needs to be collected for the coroner.
"It won't be a lot longer. They're well organised and well-rehearsed so it should be quite a short operation, all going well."
The weather was settled and with light winds on the volcano, it was a good window of opportunity, he said.
"It's nice to see the operation underway. We're all here to do our job and help where we can."
He estimates the recovery should be wrapping up about midday.
Karakia at sea
NZ Police national operations commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims said a blessing was held at sea with representatives of the families of the victims.
While the family representatives have returned to the mainland, the operation to recover the eight bodies on the island has commenced.
A boat carrying the families of those missing on Whakaari/White Island has been welcomed back to the mainland. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher
Paul Quinn, chair of Ngāti Awa Holdings, which owns White Island Tours told Morning Report before the recovery process started, a boat went out to sea for karakia about 4.30am.
Paul Quinn Photo: AFP
Onboard it were about 30 people including Ngāti Awa, family members of the two of the White Island Tours staff, and family representatives of the Australian victims and the Australian High Commissioner, he said.
"Our role in that phase of recovery has been completed.
"The recovery operation on the island will be taking some time, because they need to do their forensic work."
He said the bodies would then be flown to the mortuary in Auckland.
Paul Quinn explains Ngāti Awa's role in the Whakaari recovery operation
Quinn said police were keeping them up to date.
"They're liaising much more closely with us as opposed to before."