Locals living near Mt Ruapehu appear unfazed by the signs of elevated volcanic unrest, despite the recent strong tremors and the lake heating up.
The volcanic alert level at Mt Ruapehu has been raised to level two. Photo: Unsplash / David Calderwood
The volcanic alert level at Mt Ruapehu was raised to level two since yesterday.
So far, no one is running to cancel trips to the picturesque central North Island.
But Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron has got his eye on the mountain.
"Don't worry, I'm checking to make sure there's no smoke coming out of the crater because we're right underneath it."
Ruapehu District mayor Don Cameron. Photo: RNZ Insight/Laura Dooney
It was not the first time and definitely would not be the last time locals were around for the volcano to heat up, he said.
Mt Ruapehu erupted significantly over the course of 1995 and 1996.
Cameron said those blasts forced an economic reset for many areas as visitors stayed away.
Mt Ruapehu's most recent eruption 15 years ago had quite the opposite effect.
"From 2007, when we had that [eruption] it really had no economic effect - other than having to strengthen the bridge across Whangaehu River - which needed to be done anyway."
In fact, there was a flush of visitors coming to the area to "see what was going on", he said.
Cameron said the region's civil defence was up to an incredibly high standard.
"The alerts go to our Civil Defence people as well, and they get in touch with GNS.
"Between them, they decide then [if] we may need to take some action, and it's more around making sure people are out of line of a possible eruption," Cameron said,
Locals are not too worried about the increased volcano alert level yet.
The Tukino Mountain Clubs Association, nestled on the eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu would not worry unless the volcano stayed at level two for some time.
Its safety services manager Bruce McGregor was unfazed.
"I mean we're living [next to the mountain] every day of the year, and occasionally it does its thing," he said.
"It's like living anywhere in New Zealand. We're on the ring of fire, you know, we could have a major earthquake anywhere."
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts said its summer operations were not impacted by the change to volcanic alert level two.
All its lifts, including the Sky Waka Gondola fall well outside the precautionary zone.
The Ruapehu Chateau, inside Tongariro National Park, has not seen a flood of people cancelling their trips either.
Much of the Tongariro Crossing Track is operating as normal, with a 2km radius of the crater now off limits.
Local district councillor and Ohakune business owner Janelle Hinch said locals were not naive to the risks.
"Without negating the power of the mountain ... it's always in the back of your mind but it's definitely not a dominating concern at this time," Hinch said.
Living next to an active volcano in an area subject to consistent, extreme weather was not for the faint-hearted.
"People from the Ruapehu District have learnt to be very resilient."
"Much of our businesses rely on the weather - it doesn't matter if you're in tourism or farming, what happens from the skies and from the earth is make or break for your business."
Hinch said Covid-19 has had a harder impact on the community than volcanic activity in recent years.
