Thirteen people are dead or presumed dead after yesterday's eruption at Whakaari White Island in the Bay of Plenty.
Private operators rescued more than 30 people and almost all remain in hospital - some in a critical condition.
Herald reporter Anna Leask says the owner of White Island Tours told her employee Paul Kingi had just left the Island when it erupted.
She told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford Kingi repeatedly returned to the island to get people - including colleagues.
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