The authorities are only too aware that two bodies remain on Whakaari/White Island.
On Friday evening the search for them is continuing in the air and a dive squad is in the sea.
It was a scene waited by an unimaginable sense of grief and joy; earlier in the day, six of the eight missing people arrived back on the mainland to their loved ones after a dangerous recovery mission.
"It's not over yet," Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
It started at dawn. Helicopters took flight, carrying the hopes of families. Hopes that they'd return carrying the bodies of those missing.
"This entire event has been a traumatic and harrowing event," Bush said.
Eight bomb squad officers headed towards the heart of an ash-spewing White Island; a constant reminder of its ability to erupt at any moment.
"The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging, and those staff showed absolute coverage," Bush said.
On Thursday night, the police declared, "we have a plan". On Friday it was more good news.
"It went to plan," Bush said when he addressed reporters in the afternoon.
At 8:20am officials landed on the island. Two hours later, the news came they were preparing six of the bodies to be airlifted out.
"Our assessment and consultation with GNS Science was that there was a six percent chance in any three hour period that the volcano may erupt," said New Zealand Defence Force senior officer colonel Rian McKinstry.
The risk added to the delay; the operation taking longer than expected due to special protective gear the team had to wear.
Every extra minute was felt by family and friends waiting in Whakatane as 50 kilometres off the coast, the specialist team searched for the eight missing bodies; a search that continues on Friday night, with two still unaccounted for.
"We do believe that at least one of them is in the water, and the other one we are unsure," Bush said.
The Prime Minister praised the continued efforts of officials.
"They were humble people, they were true professionals," Jacinda Ardern said.
