The parties were charged with not meeting health and safety standards in taking tourists to the white island or called Bukhari and Maori, where the surprise eruption occurred.

It killed 22 people and injured dozens more, mostly foreign tourists traveling on a cruise ship.

At the time, questions were raised as to why people were allowed on the island, a popular destination for day trippers given there was reportedly a heightened risk of an eruption.

Bill Parks is chief executive of the workplace regulator.

Work safe.

This deeply tragic event was unexpected, but that does not mean it was un foreseeable.

After the largest and most complex investigation work safe has ever undertaken, we have concluded that 13 parties did not meet their obligations on should face charges in court.

10 organizations were charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act, with each count carrying a maximum fine of over $1 million.3 individuals were charged with a maximum fine of $300,000.