The Whakaari White Island court decision would've caught the attention of tourism operators around the country

An Auckland District Court judge has ordered six defendants pay more than 10 million dollars in reparations to victims of the eruption - and 2.5 million in fines.

Retired Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge says anyone who engages in adventure tourism will be watching this closely.

He says they might wake up and realise they can't be sued for carelessness - but they can be prosecuted.