The list names Gavin Dallow and step-daughter Zoe Hosking, as well as mother and daughter Julie and Jessica Richards, who were all named on Wednesday as dead or presumed dead by their families.

The list also includes Victorian Krystal Browitt and Coffs Harbour couple Karla Matthews and Richard Elzer.

The two New Zealanders named are local tour guides Hayden Inman and Tipene Maangi.

Inman was the first named as dead in the eruption, while family members of Maangi had named him as trapped on the island.

Police have not released any further information around the missing individuals, but Police Minister Stuart Nash said they believe eight bodies remain on the island.

Police have been hesitant to raise the death toll beyond six until they retrieve bodies from White Island; an operation that was deferred on Wednesday due to reasonable fears of another eruption.

Health officials are now counting 29 people in their care, all of whom have been moved to burns units in four hospitals.

As of Wednesday morning, 25 were in a critical condition.

A majority required support simply to breathe, while Kiwi medicos have placed an urgent order for 1.2 million square centimetres of skin to America to meet their needs.

One Australian patient will be airlifted home by the New Zealand Defence Force from Wellington on Wednesday night.

The nature of the eruption on the island, also known as Whakaari, caused survivors to ingest ash and volcanic gases, resulting in horrific injuries.

Counties Manakau chief medical officer Peter Watson said the injuries were less of a factor in identification than their need for surgery.

"The major issue was that they didn't have any identification on them so we couldn't tell," he said.

"And also because of the severity of their burns, they were undergoing treatments so many were in (operating) theatre, anaesthetised and sedated. That's been the issue."

Mr Nash told Radio NZ the injuries meant some "people in hospital cannot communicate because they have significant burns not only to skin but to internal organs".

Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall said four coroners, including herself, were working on the tragedy.

Paramedic Rusty Clarke was on board a helicopter that flew to White Island on a rescue mission shortly after the eruption.

He likened the ashened landscape to that of a nuclear explosion.

"Looking down on it, I would have to describe it as Chernobyl," he told Radio NZ.

"It was just a complete, absolute whiteout of the area involved.

"It was quite a daunting experience seeing that initial landscape."

Police on Tuesday announced a criminal investigation would take place into the tragedy, only to retract that statement an hour later.

Mr Nash described the initial announcement as "a slip of the tongue".

Police maintain their primary objective is to repatriate bodies from the island, even if they continue to be delayed by volcanic tremors or weather in the short term.

"It is our number one priority. We will return to the island, we will recover the people there," National Operation Commander John Tims said.

NZ POLICE LIST OF PEOPLE MISSING FOLLOWING THE WHITE ISLAND ERUPTION

* Gavin Dallow (Australia)

* Zoe Hosking (Australia)

* Julie Richards (Australia)

* Jessica Richards (Australia)

* Krystal Browitt (Australia)

* Richard Elzer (Australia)

* Karla Matthews (Australia)

* Tipene Maangi (New Zealand)

* Hayden Inman (New Zealand)

Australian Associated Press