The actions of first responders and helicopter pilots to fly to White Island immediately after the eruption are being hailed a 'brave decision in extraordinary dangerous circumstances”.

In a press conference in Whakatane this morning, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern thanked the quick response of the emergency services staff who went to the island immediately after the eruption, to rescue any survivors.

'In the aftermath, a number of helicopters made a deliberate decison to fly to the island to rescue survivors.

'One Westpac helicopter was able to land on the island and transport survivors back to the mainland. Two private helicopters were able to land and rescue survivors, along with a Volcanic Air helicopter.

'I want to acknowledge the courageous decision made by first responders and those pilots, who in the immediate rescue effort, made an extremely brave decision in extraordinary dangerous circumstances in an attempt to get people out.

'As a result of their efforts, a number of people were rescued from the island.”

Police have confirmed that five people are dead and eight others are still unaccounted for following the eruption at White Island at 2.11pm on Monday.

Around 37 people were rescued from the island and taken to hospital by St John Paramedics and rescue helicopters.

'We have multiple critically injured patients, many of them were taken to Whakatane Hospital where they have been assessed and treated,” says St John district operations manager Stuart Cockburn while speaking with media this morning.

'Overnight, we have moved multiple patients around New Zealand to various hospitals.”

Patients have been taken Middlemore, Auckland, Waikato, Hutt and Christchurch hospital depending on the level of care needed to treat their injuries.

Stuart says people suffered mainly burns and blast injuries and airway issues with burns.

'We are talking about many patients with critical injuries taken to intensive care units around the country.

'This event will push the capacity of the hospitals the patients have been sent to.”

Stuart says Whakatane Hospital did an outstanding job yesterday managing multiple critically injured patients.

'Our staff are doing very well and they did an exceptional job yesterday.

'It's sort of surreal. Yes we train for it, but you can never train for what you face, particularly in this scenario with the severe burns, the ash, the risk of flying out to the scene. It's something you can't really train for.”