Civil Defence has today opened two family centres in Auckland, for those affected by the Whakaari White Island eruption

The spaces are there to provide respite and access to assistance with transport and other logistics, for as long as required.

Coronial Services in Auckland is still working to formally identify the deceased.

Police have released the name of the first formally identified victim of the event.

She is 21-year-old Krystal Eve Browitt from Melbourne, Australia.

Inter-agency welfare teams are supporting 15 patients and their families at Christchurch, Hutt Valley, Waikato and Middlemore Hospitals.

In recent days, 13 patients have been transferred to hospitals in Australia and earlier in the week, 3 people were discharged from hospital.