Address at Whakaari Whakamaumahara/White Island Memorial Event by
HE Ms Harinder Sidhu AM, High Commissioner to New Zealand
9 December 2024
Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae, Muriwai Drive, Whakatāne
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangatira mā,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa
Master of Ceremonies, Joe Harawira
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Tumuaki – (Chair) Tu O’Brien
Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister of Emergency Management
Hon Casey Costello, Assistant Minister for Police
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers
Whakatāne District Mayor Dr Victor Luca
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
I acknowledge survivors, families, emergency responders and other distinguished guests.
I pay my respects to, and thank Ngāti Awa for their manaakitanga in hosting this memorial event.
One of my roles in New Zealand is to help Australians in times of crisis and distress.
As part of our training, we are asked to empathise - to imagine what it might be like to suffer trauma or loss.
Today I find myself facing people who don’t have to imagine. They know.
We visit and love Aotearoa New Zealand for the majesty and beauty of its natural wonders. But exactly five years ago we also saw nature unleash her great and terrible power.
On that day, 22 people lost their lives, among them 17 Australian citizens and permanent residents. Many Australians were also among the 25 others severely injured.
Today, we honour those who lost their lives. We reflect on the resilience of those who survived the Whakaari White Island volcano eruption, and we thank those who helped in the emergency response.
The ripples of an event like this stretch far and wide. It affects families, friends, communities and first responders.
Many of you here today will remember the incredible support and comfort extended by Ngāti Awa in the days following the eruption – providing a safe haven for families and community, medical treatment, food and comfort to hundreds of people.
Australia continues to feel deep gratitude to those who provided assistance to Australians affected by this disaster.
I extend my respect and thanks to all the New Zealand agencies and individuals involved in the response, many of whom are here today. They showed immense bravery and selflessness in the hours that followed the eruption. carrying out their roles as professional first responders.
It is also appropriate that I acknowledge the contribution from Australian personnel.
This was one of the most significant consular events Australia has ever managed in New Zealand.
Staff from the Australian High Commission and the Consulate in Auckland were deployed across New Zealand to assist survivors and families.
They were supported by specialist Crisis Response and consular staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
National Emergency Management Australia coordinated the medical evacuations of injured Australians and permanent residents, supported by aircraft provided from the Royal Australian Air Force as well as New South Wales and Victorian state governments.
In all, thirteen Australians were medically evacuated from New Zealand to hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne, with the first arriving two days after the eruption.
This was a multi community, multi agency and multi country response. I express Australia’s deep appreciation to all involved.
It is difficult to believe that five years have now passed. Speaking to many of you earlier today, I am struck at how fresh the memory of that day remains.
Our thoughts are with the survivors and their loved ones, many of whom are here today. We join with you in your grief.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
