Volcanic Activity Bulletins
Volcano Activity 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.
Earthquake activity recorded beneath Mt Ruapehu. Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) slowly heating. Volcanic activity remains low, and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
The earthquake monitoring system at Mt Ruapehu has recently recorded a sequence of small earthquakes at 3-6 km depth clustered under the volcano. Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) is slowly heating, currently reaching 19 °C. Other volcanic monitoring indicators remain within normal ranges. Volcanic activity remains low. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code at Green.
Mt Ruapehu’s Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) is now cooling. Volcanic activity remains low, and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
After a short heating phase starting mid-July this year, Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has now cooled back down. Other monitoring indicators are within normal ranges for Mt Ruapehu. Volcanic activity remains low. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code at Green.
Low level steam and gas emissions continue at Whakaari/White Island. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Based on gas and observation flights over the last few months, we conclude activity at Whakaari/White Island remains limited to minor steam and gas emissions. No eruptive activity was detected over the past few months, and changes in the active crater area have been minimal. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) is now heating at Mt Ruapehu. Volcanic activity remains low, and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) is into another heating phase, and has reached 26 °C, rising from a low of 11 °C in July. Other monitoring indicators remain within normal ranges for such a heating episode. Volcanic activity remains low. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code at Green.
Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) has stopped cooling at Mt Ruapehu. Volcanic activity remains low and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has now stopped cooling and started to reheat, rising 4 °C over the last 2 weeks. The lake temperature is now reaching 15 °C. Other monitoring indicators remain within normal ranges and the overall level of volcanic activity remains low. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code at Green.
Minor steam and gas emissions continue at Whakaari/White Island. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Based on observations over the last month, activity at Whakaari/White Island has been limited to minor steam and gas emissions. There have been no significant changes in the active crater area. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2
Volcanic activity at Taupō Volcano is now back to background levels. The Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to Level 0.
Monitoring at Taupō Volcano shows that both ground deformation and earthquake activity have continued to decrease over the past few weeks. These monitoring data indicate the level of unrest has now returned to what is normally seen as the background. The Volcanic Alert Level is now lowered to Level 0 for Taupō Volcano.
Whakaari/White Island continues to emit gas and steam. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakatane-based webcam images and monitoring flights confirm continuing steam and gas plumes, and no significant changes in the active crater. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
Te Wai ā-moe (Crater Lake) is cooling, volcanic unrest remains low for Mt Ruapehu. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
Te Wai ā-moe (Ruapehu Crater Lake) has slowly cooled from 32 °C to 21 °C since January 2023. Other monitoring indicators also remain within normal ranges and the level of volcanic unrest remains low. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains Green.
Taupō Volcano remains in minor unrest despite earthquake activity having almost returned to normal. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
The number of earthquakes at Taupō Volcano over the last few weeks has decreased and almost returned to what is normally seen. Meanwhile, uplift of the floor of the central part of Lake Taupō continues. The volcanic alert level remains at 1.