FROM THE ARCHIVES
South Waikato News sifted its archives to find stories from the last major volcanic eruptions, which affected the South Waikato. September 25, 1995 Eerie calm, no warning before mountain erupts The Evening Post Mudflows from the Ruapehu eruption swept through an area where skiers normally queue for a ski-lift, Whitby ski buff Rick Stevens said today.
Mr Stevens said it was lucky the mountain erupted at 5pm on Saturday when the slopes had closed for the day.
He said the mudflow swept down either side of the West Ridge ski run, so those on the ski-lift would have been okay. But anyone in the way of the lahar flow would have been in trouble.
‘‘ You could never have outrun it. You would have had time to say, ‘ What’s going on here?’ and that would have been it.’’
Stories featured in the South Waikato News: October 5, 1995 Hoping for more action If I’d flown in from overseas to see it, I’d be very disappointed.
After all there have been interesting stories coming out of the media world-wide about the behaviour of Mount Ruapehu recently.
From the USA there were reports of molten lava spewing 12 miles into the sky and boulders the size of cars thrown out of the volcano.
From Great Britain the eruptions supposedly brought down a plane, killing 10 and Australians were told molten lava has been blown 150 kms from the mountain.
Mount Ruapehu hit level four on the Civil Defence warning scale on Saturday September 25 when it launched black shower of ash into the sky after a relative calm.
That is the highest level it’s been in years, the highest level is five. June 16, 1996 Mountain ash South Waikato
The Mountain is erupting again!
Mount Ruapehu is causing concern in the South Waikato with ash fallout keeping school children indoors yesterday.
On Monday Balmoral Primary and Tainui Intermediate were instructed to keep everyone indoors because of large ashfall.
There were also traffic problems on Tar Hill and concern was expressed about the ash affecting water supplies and animals. June 20, 1996 And the ash came down Bushworkers had to leave the forests, cars were covered and dustmasks became the topic of conversation after the Mt Ruapehu eruption.
On monday ash fallout forced some bush gangs
affects south of Tar Hill to quit around mid morning while others resorted to using dust masks. June 25, 1996 So far so good, but what to do if Ruapehu gets really mad!
The ashfall from the Ruapehu eruption has, so far, caused little more than curiosity and a minor nuisance in most of the South Waikato.
However, a major ash fallout can easily cause problems and serious disruption to day-to-day life.
South Waikato District Council civil defence officer Barrie Herlihy says there are a number of simple precautions and steps which should be taken during a major ashfall.
‘‘The main thing is - don’t panic, stay calm,’’ he says. July 16, 1996 Ash causes health worry Mount Ruapehu ash is getting up South Waikato residents’ noses and causing breathing problems.
More than 35 people who suffer from breathing conditions have been seen by Tokoroa Hospital.
The increase in hospital admission numbers for asthma and bronchialrelated problems has been caused by ash, hospital support services co-ordinator Nancy Warner says.
Mrs Warner advises those with asthma or bronchial problems to stay indoors.