From: [link to www.nzherald.co.nz (secure)] [updated]

"Many of the people visiting White Island today were from the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas which is berthed at the Port of Tauranga this morning. Port company chief executive Mark Cairns says he understands the majority of those injured in the eruption are from the ship, the largest cruise vessel that visits Tauranga.

Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said the cruise ship berthed this morning and was to depart tonight. Passengers scheduled to visit White Island would have caught buses to Whakatane to join transport to the island, he said. Wealthy passengers could have travelled by helicopter. The ship would not now be leaving Tauranga tonight, Cairns said."