On her first return to the seaside community and gateway to the Whakaari volcano since last year's deadly eruption, Jacinda Ardern has made a tribute to locals and Australian families who lost loved ones in the blast.
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The New Zealand prime minister visited Whakatane on Wednesday on the campaign trail to October 17's election.
Unlike previous days, the visit had a sombre and reflective feel.
Ms Ardern met and shared morning tea with the first responders to the December 9 blast.
That included Ngati Awa, the local Maori community, helicopter pilots, the coast guard, St John's ambulance workers, and all staff at Whakatane Hospital who were overwhelmed in the aftermath of the eruption.
Of 47 people on the island during the eruption, 21 lost their lives - including 14 Australians.
"In the aftermath of Whakaari I received a lot of letters from those who had lost loved ones, particularly those who were overseas. Many of those came from our Australian friends," Ms Ardern said.
"I was deeply moved by those letters.
"In a circumstance where it would be completely understandable to feel such pain and grief when you think of New Zealand and when you think of Whakatane, yet the opposite was true.
"Those letters often detail the close connection that they feel here to this place, and to all of you.
"And in some cases they even said that if they were to lose a loved one anywhere, this is the place that they would want to be safe and held and cared for.
"That in my mind has happened as a result of the way you responded."
Tamsin Davies, the clinical lead at Whakatane Hospital's emergency department, holds back tears as she remembers the traumatic days that followed the eruption.
She said dozens of victims presenting with horrific burns and internal injuries remained "incredibly" etched on her memory.
"You wouldn't be human if it wasn't," Dr Davies said.
"It's not just us as the hospital staff that it will have a lasting effect on, I think it's the country.
"I have incredible pride in our team, and how everyone helped each other and helped all of the casualties that we had."
Dave van Dyke, a registered nurse and Whakatane Hospital coordinator, said the town would always remember the Australian medicos who flew to NZ for support.
"We had a number of nurses that came across after the event and they were a vital part of our support, and part of our recovering the days after the event as well. For that we're extremely grateful," he said.
A number of inquiries - including a multi-million dollar WorkSafe probe - have been launched into the disaster.
That does not include a public investigation or royal commission, which Ms Ardern says would duplicate the work of WorkSafe and the police.
The WorkSafe probe is due to report prior to the anniversary in December, when Ms Ardern said she would be guided by locals on how best to commemorate it.
Australian Associated Press
