White Island volcano: Ardern urged to help rescue pilots facing charges

Petition calling for New Zealand PM to intervene has hit 120,000 signatures after helicopter pilots were charged over Whakaari disaster

New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, is facing calls to intervene in the prosecution of a former SAS soldier who led a daring helicopter mission to save tourists from White Island/Whakaari eruption.

Pilot Mark Law, 49, was widely hailed a hero when he and three colleagues landed on the island when emergency services deemed it too dangerous to fly there and brought 12 people to hospital on the mainland.