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Story: Volcanoes

Ruapehu eruption, July 1996

During the 1995–96 eruptions of Ruapehu, tephra was produced by the rise and explosive expansion of hot gas through molten andesite lava. This video clip shows gas explosions ripping apart the andesite and ejecting bombs and ash. Ash was spread by the wind over most parts of the central North Island.

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TVNZ Television New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, Volcanoes – Tephra layers – a record of past eruptions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/8729/ruapehu-eruption-july-1996 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Ange
02 August 2010
Hey Tony, your post brings back vivid recollections of one particular eruption. If memory serves me well, it was a stunning still winter morning. Beautiful clear blue skies, the lake still like a mill pond with snow covered mountains as a backdrop. The initial eruption was like an earth quake, news quickly filtered through the office, along with warnings to remain inside due to the ash cloud. Fortunate or unfortunately we had spectactular views of the lake and mountains. The clarity and speed at which the ash cloud travelled was seriously impressive. Even more so that Taupo experienced minimal damage from ash compared with other areas. The beauty, unpredictability and power of nature is something else to behold.
Tony
25 July 2010
Marked a significant family event. My wife managed to get out on a flight to Vancouver to meet me (5th/6th July) having been escorted from Christchurch to Auckland by our daughter. Her return flight to Chch was cancelled and during her enforced stay she was invited to a party and met a guy whom she married two years later. Some eruption!