A day for the Whakatane community to come together, and to remember.

It's a year today since the Whakaari White Island eruption, that took 22 lives.

East Coast MP  and Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan is reflecting on the tragedy.

She says today, her heart is with families who have lost loved ones.

She says she also feels for the first responders and hospital cleaners, who were called to do things they could never have imagined doing.

"Very much a defining moment and defining tragedy for our community here in the East Coast."

She told Tim Dower the day is still fresh in her mind, and will be for years to come, and that she recalls looking at smoke rising from the island.