Only the facts: new Tūhua/Mayor Island Volcano resource now available
Lying offshore of western Bay of Plenty, Tūhua/Mayor Island is a famous big-game fishing and diving destination, and a haven for wildlife as a pest-free sanctuary. But did you know it is also a dormant volcano?
Meaning, it is not currently active or restless, but could erupt again.
To provide New Zealanders with lots of interesting facts about Tūhua’s eruptive history and what a future eruption could look like, a new fact sheet is now available with easy-to-understand information about one of New Zealand’s closest offshore volcanoes.
What does it cover?
Until now, there has not been a simple summary of key facts about Tūhua, so this new fact sheet helps fill that gap with the most up to date scientific research supported by the Beneath the Waves programme(external link). It covers why Tūhua is unique and different from Whakaari/White Island and what volcanic processes could happen if it were to become more active as well as what has happened in the past.
While Tūhua is not currently active, we are providing this information in response to increased public interest, and to share details about current research being conducted.
Who made it?
The fact sheet was created through a collaborative effort involving more than five organisations, including Earth Sciences New Zealand, Western Bay District Council, Emergency Management Bay of Plenty, Victoria University of Wellington, and the University of Canterbury.
Special thanks to the Tūhua Trust Board for their valuable time and the insights they have contributed to this project.
Illustration credit: Gavin Mouldey