Volcanic Alert Bulletins
Volcano Alert Bulletins (VABs) are New Zealand's official source of volcano status information including the current Volcanic Alert Level (VAL).
They are issued on an as needed basis summarising the volcano status and recent events.
They can indicate if activity is increasing, decreasing, or in a steady state. They may contain forecasts, highlight developing, or expected problems.
If you’d like to be notified as soon as we issue a new bulletin, our social media channels and the GeoNet app will keep you up-to-date.
Whakaari/White Island: Update #20
Whakaari/White Island remains in an elevated state of unrest. Lava is now visible in the vents created by the eruption. Further explosive eruptions are very unlikely on any given day in the next four weeks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code remains Yellow.
Whakaari/White Island: Update #19
Whakaari/White Island remains in an elevated state of unrest. Very hot gas and steam continues to discharge from vents created by the eruption on December 9th. Further large explosive eruptions are very unlikely on any given day* in the next four weeks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code remains Yellow.
Mt Ruapehu: Continued background activity, minor volcanic unrest
Over the last 5-6 months measurements of Mt Ruapehu’s Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) temperature, earthquake activity and chemistry have remained consistent with minor volcanic unrest.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #18
Whakaari/White Island remains in an elevated state of unrest. Very hot gas and steam continue to discharge from the December 9th vents. Further eruptions over 24 hours on any given day are very unlikely in the next four weeks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2. The Aviation Colour Code changes to Yellow as ash only rarely gets emitted at the vent.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #17
Very hot gas and steam continue to be discharged from active vents at the back of the crater basin. Volcanic tremor and other seismic activity continue at a low level. Further eruptions are very unlikely in the next two weeks. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #16
We have confirmed that very hot gas and steam are being discharged from active vents at the back of the crater basin. Volcanic tremor continues at a low level. Further eruptions are unlikely in the next few days. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #15
Volcanic tremor continues at a low level; gas and steam discharges continue. Further eruptions are unlikely in the next 24 hours. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #14
Volcanic tremor continues at a low level and no eruptions have occurred since Monday 9 December. Further eruptions are unlikely in the next 24 hours. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #13
The volcanic tremor at Whakaari/White Island continues at a low level. No eruptions have occurred since Monday 9 December and further eruptions are unlikely in the next 24 hours. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island eruption: Update #12
The level of volcanic tremor has remained low over the weekend and this morning (16 December) at Whakaari/White Island. No eruptions have occurred since Monday 9 December and further eruptions are unlikely in the next 24 hours. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.