After Whakaari/White Island, it's up to us to save ourselves

Mark Blackham

05:00, Dec 17 2019

OPINION: The tragedy at Whakaari/White Island last week exposed a growing institutional cowardice among emergency services, particularly police, that affects their usefulness to citizens.

When the eruption occurred, and the emergency calls started on Monday afternoon, police and rescue services decided that they would not head to the island to help.

It was left to my fellow citizens to respond with māia (courage). Those nearby, and back on the mainland, reacted instantly and humanely. They ran, flew, and sped by boat toward the danger.

Politicians and officials have praised these as "first responders". Their use of the phrase was a dishonest attempt to hide that these people were not official first responders, but ordinary people.