Volcanic eruption in New Zealand

[kaiwhara]

Interesting that the Rangipo Desert Road was closed... is it open now? Did anywhere (and I'm thinking of Ohakune) cop any ash?

The Desert Road (as State Highway 1 is called between Turangi and Waiouru) was on the same side as the direction of Ash Fall which was towards the East. In the event there wasn't a lot of that either so it was reopened a few hours later. Ohakune and National Park are on the other side so they were fine, and the trains on the NIMT kept running without interption.

I havn;t caught up with our Papers from today yet but it sounds like GNS are advising they are expecting another eruption within a fortnight from Tongariro, and they are still keeping an eye on Ruapehu...

[kiwi1941]

Hope things calm down without incident

Bright, sunny and warm down here in the South Island and the earth hasn't moved - recently

[kaiwhara]

Bright, sunny and warm down here in the South Island and the earth hasn't moved - recently

In saying that it does appear as though Christchurch is finally starting to settle down, which is good. Even a decent aftershock now isn't all that big, as opposed to the 5's and 6's they were getting down there for a while.

That February Earthquake last year was quite an experience - one that I will never forget. Poor timing for me to go on a months holiday in the South Island, I had no car for 11 days, and even then I didn't know whether it still existed or not - I wasn't too far off claiming insurance on a write off. I can't say I have ever actually actively gone home to have a holiday - it was quite weird!