DoC keen to honour worker lost on Raoul

The father of missing conservation worker Mark Kearney has discussed with the Department of Conservation the idea of a memorial on Raoul Island for his son but says no decision has been made.

Ray Kearney said the family were still trying to cope with their loss and a memorial service would be arranged in due course.

"We have only just come to terms with the fact he has died," he said.

DoC Warkworth area manager Rolien Elliot said the department would hold further talks with the family.

A memorial on the island was a possibility. "We're keen to talk with the family about what they feel is appropriate," she said.

A DoC staffer, Mr Kearney, 33, went missing eight days ago during an eruption on the remote island 800km northeast of New Zealand just as he was taking measurements near a crater lake.

Ray Kearney accepted his son's body might never be recovered.

"I think he's gone for ever," he said.

Ms Elliot said all but one of the five survivors of the eruption who were on the island were heading home last night.

The five - Jim Livingstone, Morgan Cox, Melanie Nelson, Evan Ward and Lynda McGrory-Ward - had returned to the place where their colleague had gone missing.

Mr Livingstone would stay on Raoul with two other staff members for up to eight weeks to monitor seismic activity.