New Zealand Prime Minister's Statement in Full...

“Whilst I cannot give any confirmation at this stage about fatalities, what I can say is that it is clear that this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days.

Many of those who will have been directly affected by this eruption may be migrants to New Zealand, they may even be refugees here. They have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home.

They are us. The volcano which perpetuated this violence is not. Volcanos have no place in New Zealand. There is no place in New Zealand for such mountains.

The advice from police continues to be that tourists must remain onboard their cruise liners until they can apprehend the suspected mountain.

Please be assured, though, the police are actively managing the situation.

As soon as I leave here, I will be returning directly on a flight to Wellington. Geologists are already convening in Wellington. I will be looking to meet with them as soon as I land and be briefed on how best to take down there monuments to white supremacy. Yes, I did be happy to take questions”