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Story: Historic volcanic activity

Political rumblings

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Political rumblings

The Ngāuruhoe eruptions in February 1975 took place at the same time as the French were carrying out nuclear testing at Moruroa (Mururoa) Atoll, in the Pacific Ocean. Cartoonist Eric Heath suggested that the eruption was a symbolic protest by subterranean forces against the nuclear explosions.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-132-128

by Eric Heath

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, Historic volcanic activity – Tongariro and Ngāuruhoe, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/6850/political-rumblings (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 2 March 2009.