Ngā Hūnga Puia Volcanoes
Most of central Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland sits on the Auckland Volcanic Field that contains the remains of 53 volcanic cones and craters. The last eruption happened about 600 years ago, but the Auckland Volcanic Field is still considered active, and the next eruption could happen at any time. GeoNet continuously monitors New Zealand’s volcanoes for signs that an eruption might occur.
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland is also at risk of volcanic eruptions that occur outside the region. Volcanic Ash and tsunami can affect areas far from the eruption location (or ‘vent’). In 2022, a volcanic eruption in Tonga caused a tsunami that impacted Northland, and the 1995/96 eruptions of Mt Ruapehu in the Central North Island spread ash that closed Auckland Airport multiple times.
While volcanic eruptions are rare, they can happen with little warning and cause serious impacts. Eruptions can produce lava flows, volcanic ash, explosive blasts, and even trigger other hazards like fires or landslides. Knowing these risks and being prepared can help keep you and your whānau safe.
Preparing for a Volcanic Eruption
Since eruptions can happen suddenly, it’s important to know what to do.
- Know the Auckland Volcanic Field: Learn about the Auckland Volcanic Field and where the next eruption could occur. If you live in or near it, you may need to evacuate during the next eruption due to the risk of deadly volcanic hazards.
- Prepare an emergency kit: Have a kit ready with important items like food, water, medications, masks and googles for ash, and a battery-powered radio.
- Create an emergency plan: Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do in case of an eruption, including where you might evacuate to and what you will need to take if you are evacuated for a long period of time. Don’t forget your pets!
If area volcanic eruption happens that is in or impacts Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland:
- Evacuate if necessary: Follow official evacuation orders and move to a safer area if directed. You may have to move very quickly as eruptions can occur with little warning.
- Seek shelter indoors: If not in an evacuation zone, ash and volcanic gases could still reach you. If ash starts to fall, stay inside with all windows and doors closed. Wear a mask or cover your nose and mouth with a cloth to avoid breathing in ash, wear goggles to protect your eyes, and long sleeved clothing, pants and shoes to minimise ash contact with your skin.
- Keep the ash out: Close windows and doors to limit ash from entering. Put damp towels at doorways to help keep ash out. If you collect rainwater, disconnect the tank from the drainage pipes to prevent blockages. Turn off air conditioning or ventilation units that draw air from outside. Minimise ash build-up on roofs if possible by cleaning them carefully.
- Stay informed: Keep up with local radio, mobile alerts, or emergency broadcasts for the latest information on the eruption. Be aware that the eruption could change quickly with little warning.
After the eruption, follow these steps to ensure safety:
- Wait for the all-clear: You won’t be able to go back to evacuated areas until authorities say it’s safe. There may still be risks, like gas emissions or leftover ash.
- Clean ash safely: If ash has fallen, carefully clean it from roofs, driveways, and other surfaces. Wear a mask and goggles to protect yourself from breathing in ash or getting it in your eyes. DO NOT use water to clear ash away, this could lead to blocked pipes and damaged infrastructure.
- Check for damage: Look over your home and property for any damage from ash, lava flows, or other volcanic effects. Be careful around any weakened structures.
- Health precautions: Volcanic ash can cause health problems, especially for people with existing respiratory conditions. Seek medical help if anyone in your household has trouble breathing or other health concerns after the eruption.
Types of Volcanic Hazards
There are many types of volcanic hazards that we might experience in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. These include:
- Lava Flows: Masses of super-heated molten rock that pour from an erupting volcanic vent.
- Volcanic Ash: Pulverised volcanic rock and gases that can spread a great distance from the erupting vent, contaminating water supplies, damaging buildings, and affecting air quality. It can also disrupt travel, especially flights.
- Pyroclastic flows: Deadly, fast-moving, super-heated clouds of volcanic rocks and gases that can spread many kilometres from the erupting vent.
- Volcanic gas: Gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide can be released during an eruption, which can be harmful to health, especially for people with breathing issues.
- Volcanic tsunami: If an eruption displaces a large amount of water, it could trigger a tsunami, posing more risk to coastal areas.
Know your risk: Use our hazard viewer to explore potential risks for different locations. These maps are for information only, updated regularly, and should not be solely relied upon for decision-making.