Maori prayer will herald the five-year anniversary of the 2019 Whakaari volcanic eruption which killed 22 people, including 17 Australians.
At dawn on Monday, the local tribe of the Whakatane region - Ngati Awa - will lead a dawn service in tribute to those lost in the deadly blast.
On December 9, 2019, 47 people involved tour groups were exploring the active island volcano, found 50km north of Whakatane, in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, when it erupted, forcing them to run for cover.
