The last cohort of Australian nurses who came over to Whakatāne Hospital to help in the wake of the Whaakari/White Island tragedy has headed back home.
Eleven nurses, 10 from Australia and one from Southland, offered their services to help their Whakatāne nursing colleagues after the eruption.
The last group of four Australian nurses worked their final shifts at the hospital just prior to the weekend.
There has been praise on both sides, from the departing nurses for the way Whakatāne staff handled the initial incident and from Whakatāne Hospital staff for the hard work of the Australian nurses.
Natalie Hincksman was an Advanced Care Nurse who managed and coordinated the MedSTAR Aeromedical Retrieval Service in South Australia.