In December 2019, Whakaari / White Island erupted, killing 22 people and injuring many more.
Better co-founder Irene Chapple directed The Eruption: Stories of Survival, a feature documentary focusing on the human stories of survivors, tour guides, first responders, and families affected by the disaster.
Rather than assigning blame, the film explored how individuals coped with the immediate crisis and ongoing recovery, including medical treatment, psychological support, and community networks. It also explored our relationship with nature, and the risks in adventure tourism.
The film followed survivors over time, providing a longitudinal perspective that highlighted resilience and adaptation.
Broadcast nationally in New Zealand and distributed internationally via TVF International, the documentary reached a wide audience, illustrating how local stories can resonate globally. Irene was nominated for director of the year, documentary, at the NZTV awards.
The Eruption exemplifies human-focused, ethical storytelling and demonstrates the power of documentary filmmaking to explore difficult, complex topics.
