New Zealand / Bay Of Plenty

White Island volcanic alert lowered

13:43 pm on 19 September 2016

The volcanic alert on White Island in the Bay of Plenty has been been lowered after last week's small eruption.

The volcano, 48km off the coast of Whakatane, started to show heightened unrest during a small eruption last Tuesday, while a tour group was visiting.

GeoNet raised the alert level to three, but said the seismic activity since then had remained low - and the alert was now at the lowest level, of one.

It said, although Tuesday's eruption had ceased, White Island was always capable of a new one at any time, without prior warning.

GeoNet continues to monitor the volcano for possible renewed activity.